The State of the American Student: Fall 2024
Solve for the most complex needs: A path forward as pandemic effects reverberate
As CRPE reported in 2022 and 2023, the COVID-19 pandemic and related school closures led to unprecedented academic setbacks for all American students. In our third State of the Student report, we turn our attention to how the pandemic impacted—and continues to impact—special populations.
COVID-19 disproportionately affected students with unique learning needs. English learners, students with disabilities, and homeless youth had higher rates of absenteeism, disrupted services, and setbacks. Our analysis points to a dysfunctional system that served these students badly before the pandemic hit and remains inadequate. This report highlights challenges experienced by special student populations and calls on schools, policymakers, advocates, and philanthropists to enact systemic reforms that would benefit all students.
QUICK LINKS
Fast Facts on K-12 Recovery
Academic Progress & Recovery
Economic Impacts
Absenteeism and Student Engagement
Enrollment Declines and the Fiscal Cliff
Opportunity Gaps
Mental Health
Situation Report 2024
The Good News
We Are Learning What Works
- Students and teachers are showing signs of recovery from the pandemic, with students recovering about a third of their math and a quarter of their reading losses.
- States and districts are adopting permanent measures like tutoring, quality curricula, and extended learning time, with rigorous evaluations confirming their effectiveness.
- Education systems are emphasizing relationships, joy, and flexibility, leading to more agile and future-focused schooling models.
- There is a growing effort to support educators by fostering teamwork and utilizing new technologies, such as generative AI, to reduce workload.
The Bad News
Pandemic Recovery Has Been Slow and Uneven
- Proven strategies are not reaching enough students, leading to slow and uneven recovery, with the average student less than halfway to full academic recovery.
- Students most affected by pandemic learning disruptions, such as those in low-income districts, are not getting adequate support, with program participation rates extremely low.
- Younger students, especially “COVID babies,” face larger learning gaps, with academic recovery being slow and uneven, particularly in foundational subjects like math.
- The achievement gap between the highest- and lowest-performing students is growing, with low-income students making a slower recovery than their affluent peers.
- Schools face worsening challenges, including teacher morale, mental health support shortages, declining enrollment, and expiring recovery funds.
- Chronic absenteeism has nearly doubled since 2020, and college readiness is at a three-decade low, with many students failing to meet major benchmarks.
- There is not enough discussion about these problems, especially from policymakers
- COVID-19 disproportionately impacted students with unique learning needs. Vulnerable populations, such as students with disabilities and English learners, are struggling with higher absenteeism, slower academic recovery, and special education referrals at an all-time high.
The Pandemic's Toll on Vulnerable Students
A Warning Bell for Systemic Reform
Two dozen interviews with parents of students in special populations (conducted in Spring 2024 by our research partners at the USC Center for Economic and Social Research) revealed a spectrum of pandemic experiences, from success stories to heart-wrenching struggles. While some families received adequate support and adapted well, most faced significant hardships that underscored the need for immediate, targeted interventions and systemic refors.
Parents struggleed to meet their children’s unique needs—and received limited support
“At the end of the year, they didn’t want him to go through the graduation process, ’cause apparently he had two Fs, and I didn’t know until we were in the process of graduation.”
Disproportionate needs and impact
The pandemic had a more severe impact on English learners and students with disabilities compared to their peers, with significant academic declines and increased absenteeism. English proficiency scores for English learners in 2023 remained below pre-pandemic levels, particularly for younger students. Students with disabilities also saw larger drops in standardized test scores compared to non-disabled peers. The academic recovery for these groups varied significantly across districts, highlighting the need for effective strategies. Additionally, students with unique needs faced social and emotional challenges, such as increased anxiety, loss of social skills, and bullying upon returning to school.
Special education rates on the rise
In the 2022–23 school year, a record 7.5 million public school students were served under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), driven at least in part by the pandemic’s impact on young children’s academic and social development. The rise in special education referrals is largely due to increased speech delays and behavioral issues, but concerns remain about the effectiveness of special education programs. Staffing shortages, particularly in special education, have worsened post-pandemic, limiting the ability of schools to meet students’ needs. While more students are receiving services, there are significant challenges in ensuring these interventions lead to positive academic outcomes.
“You have such a short time to be able to help these kids. It can be demoralizing when you don’t feel you can give them the support needed for them to live the lives they want to lead.”
—Alyssa Potasznik, special education teacher
Higher rates of chronic absenteeism for special populations
“I feel like the whole experience made her grow up a little bit more, and mature, and want to actually go back to school and do the work.”
Some students with unique needs excelled amid school closures
We heard good news in our interviews, too—some students with unique needs thrived during school closures. Many parents reported that their children developed greater independence, self-motivation, and a renewed commitment to education. Some students excelled academically due to strong communication with schools and the ability to manage their time effectively. For students with autism, the shift to virtual learning provided a welcome break from the social challenges of in-person schooling. These positive experiences suggest that flexible models developed during the pandemic could benefit not only special populations but all students moving forward.
Recommendations
COVID-19’s impact on education will continue reverberating. Consistent themes and indicators across both general and special populations clearly demonstrate preexisting problems. Rethinking public education for the most vulnerable populations would benefit all students.
Schools and school systems can...
Prioritize relationships
Strong relationships between students, teachers, and families significantly improve student outcomes. Successful programs like BARR emphasize the power of communication and connection in education recovery.
Partner with parents
Effective educator-parent partnerships, with clear and transparent communication about student progress and needs, are essential for helping parents support their children’s learning at home.
Tear down the walls
Schools need to abandon outdated practices that sort students into rigid categories and instead adopt flexible systems that address individual needs. Students should receive both academic instruction and necessary services without having to choose between them.
Implement proven strategies
Tutoring and small-group instruction must be integrated into the regular school schedule to ensure that all students, especially those most in need, can access these powerful, evidence-based supports without stigma.
Plan for after graduation
Students need early exposure to diverse postsecondary and career options, including apprenticeships and dual enrollment, to prepare for life after high school and reduce barriers to higher education.
Enlist all the help possible
Achieving comprehensive educational reform requires support from state leaders, advocates, and philanthropists to alleviate teacher burnout and ensure students receive individualized support and guidance for both academic and postsecondary success.
Policymakers, advocates, and philanthropists can:
Shine a light on urgent needs
Advocates and officials must hold schools accountable for meeting the needs of vulnerable students, including detailed reporting on the progress of specific groups such as students with disabilities, considering factors like age, race, and income.
Tap new sources of talent
States can help schools leverage community groups, parents, and other non-traditional sources of talent to provide tutoring, mentorship, and support, with flexible pathways to teaching credentials. Additionally, strategic staffing models and AI-powered tools can support special populations.
Provide guidance and guardrails around curriculum technological tools
Schools need clear guidance on using AI and high-quality instructional materials effectively. Proper vetting, training, and implementation can help teachers save time and ensure students receive the best possible support.
Be willing to place power and opportunity directly in the hands of families
Families should have access to compensatory education and the ability to choose tutors and other support when schools fall short. State-funded programs offering grants, like Indiana Learns, provide a successful model for giving families more control over their children's education.
Prioritize real accountability
States need to improve the timeliness and transparency of student performance data, ensuring parents and educators have the information necessary to support students effectively, particularly those furthest from opportunity.
State Secrets
Speaking of data transparency, our researchers produced a sister report alongside State of the Student this year that graded the report cards of all 50 states and D.C. The result: most states received a C or worse in data transparency, and only 7 states received an A.
