 Dear reader,
With the start of the school year this fall comes sobering news: pandemic-related learning loss, at least for 9-year-olds in public schools, was far worse than expected, according to scores on what is known as the nation’s report card – the National Assessment of Educational Progress.
That means two years of Covid-related shutdowns and interruptions erased 20 years of educational progress. Later this fall we’ll get more complete news, including scores for 4th and 8th graders in each state, but we know these declines in reading and math will be top of mind in many classrooms.
It is one reason why we’ll be welcoming your ideas and opinions about how to get our students back on track, at a time when declining enrollments and other pressures are endangering our public education system.
The Hechinger Report also took a close look at another education obstacle, this one for medical students: In states where abortion is now illegal, some are reconsidering their choices, abandoning their original plans in favor of pursuing training in states where it is legal. In our story co-published with the Washington Post, we found that thousands of future doctors now face roadblocks to accessing clinical training in abortion care, barriers that could ultimately limit access not just to abortion, but to all obstetric and gynecological care.
We also take a closer look at ways apprenticeships can solve teacher shortages and at a school district that has brought back corporal punishment. And please, get in touch – we love to hear from our readers.
Liz Willen, Editor
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Main Idea
