The Pandemic Hurt These Students the Most

New research shows that all groups are behind in math and reading after disruptions during the pandemic. But it’s the most vulnerable students who experienced the steepest setbacks.

How much did the pandemic affect students? The latest research is out, and the answer is clear: dramatically. In math and reading, students are behind where they would be after a normal year, with the most vulnerable students showing the steepest drops, according to two new reports from the consulting firm McKinsey & Company and the NWEA, a nonprofit organization that provides academic assessments.