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Writer's pictureTatum B. Hutton

Students Still Suffer From Academic Struggles Nearly Five Years After The Pandemic: Is Tutoring The Answer?



Kids are crying out for help in school and with mental health

It's been almost five years since schools were forced online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Unsurprisingly, students across the United States fell into and have been stuck with major academic difficulties. New data from NWEA, Curriculum Associates, and Renaissance shows that recovery has stalled, with some students falling further behind in such crucial areas as math and reading. This raises the a question: do I need a tutor?


The Lingering Impact of COVID-19 on Education

Many parents and educators were anticipating a return to better academic performance, but it didn't materialize during the 2023-24 school year. A report from NWEA indicated that students did not make meaningful progress in catching up. The achievement gaps have grown, shocking ones still very present in math and reading. Alarmingly, eighth-graders who were fourth-graders when the pandemic started are now nine months behind. In fact, the study showed that across the country high school students are 9-12 months behind in math and slightly less behind in reading comprehension, vocabulary, etc. This is compared to pre-pandemic levels and the state curriculum requirements and tests as well as independent national testing sources like Curriculum Associates.


The Data

Curriculum Associates released a report in late August concluding that academic growth has been irregular and generally slower than what was it was before the lockdowns from COVID-19. The percentage of below-grade-level students is still at alarmingly high levels. Nearly 20% of third-graders are still below the reading level expected for their grade. grade in reading: a significant surge from pre-pandemic levels where closer to one in eight students was struggling.


STAR test results presents yet another mixed picture of recovery. While first graders are back on the path to pre-pandemic performance, older students, especially those from grades eight to twelve, have become slower at math. They are essentially an average of one year behind- that means some are even more behind than a year. Math is impossible to progress in difficulty without a strong foundation. Missing an entire year (or more) as many kids did was detrimental to them both short and long-term. This indicates a compounding effect of student's decline in math; it affects class placement/rigor in middle and high school and is extremely evident when students take the PSAT in 10th and/or 11th grade. Before the pandemic, there were always gaps in mathematical education; it is impossible to not have them, as no one is able to learn every concept well for 12 years straight. But now- the holes are gaping sinkholes that are not setting up students for successful college admissions.


Factors Contributing to Stagnant Academic Recovery

Multiple factors contribute to the slow academic recovery. One big problem is that students have foundational gaps in their learning that prevent them from easily learning new material. For instance, a sixth-grader who missed out on reading instruction in earlier grades would also struggle in a sixth-grade classroom with understanding the material and the actual reading itself. And because teachers typically focus on educating a specific grade level, a student with foundational college gaps from lower grades might not receive adequate support from their teacher.


These widespread academic pitfalls now have placed teachers with larger groups of students who are behind. The individualization of attention to the needs of each student has become more difficult. This development has slowed the traditional pace of learning due to the need to address such students, further inhibiting the recovery effort.


Another is chronic absenteeism. During 2022-23, more than 25% of students were chronically absent and missed around 10% of the school year. This level of absenteeism has made it almost impossible for far too many students to catch up.


Mental health issues also have a significant role in long academic. According to the USC study published in August 2024, the findings present alarming levels of psychological distress across teens, particularly in teen girls and preteen boys. Such mental health challenges have been previously linked to increased absenteeism and decreased academic achievement, both components of the learning crisis.


Long-Term Impact & Need for Intervention

The consequences of this slow academic recovery are immense. Students who have fallen behind in school could have lingering effects which will worsen future job prospects and lead to lower earning potential. This situation would also harm the US economy by reducing the skilled labor force.


Despite the government's $190 billion for pandemic recovery, only a sliver went toward academic recovery efforts like tutoring and summer school. While these efforts brought some academic gains, they haven't been enough to offset widespread learning losses.


How Tutoring Can Help

At this point, it is already clear that recovery in academics is a backup that needs further re-acceleration. Tutoring is the fastest and most efficient way to catch up when you are behind academically -- especially in math; it is a very sequential subject. If you miss a year- and don't go back and learn it- you will never understand more than half of the material going forward. When you add stress, learning differences, mental health challenges, protests, a war, and SAT's returning- you have a setup for a firestorm. One-on-one customized tutoring is the fastest way to go back, fill in the holes in your education, and then move forward. Whether you're looking for help recovering from the academic crisis, preparing for the digital SAT/ ACT, or just want support in a subject, tutoring is worth it- or you have the wrong tutor.


Is Tutoring Worth The Money?

Tutoring costs have skyrocketed because it is very difficult to find qualified tutors willing to work for slightly more than McDonald's pays after gaining a masters degree in education. Is tutoring worth it? Yes! Tutoring is (or should be) customized to meet the holes in your child's learning- even ones that they were unaware of. This can make all the difference for a student struggling- especially in math. Whether your child requires homework help, advanced placement, or even prepping for the SAT/ACT, tutoring is the most efficient way to bridge the gaps and put students on the right path toward success. There is no better investment if your child is behind or to get your child ahead.


What Can Be Done?

By concentrating on learning strategies targeted at students' missing knowledge, tutoring can help them make up for academic losses. Don't let your child slip any further behind to cut costs; invest in their education and future success. Local libraries are great resources for tutoring if you truly cannot afford it- but if you are skipping the tutoirng to go to Hawaii with the family, you might want to rethink your plan; time is of the essence for kids to get caught up. This is not the time to be cheap... you are investing in your child's future- so find the best tutor for your child and if it isn't worth the value after one month, find a new one. You should treat it no differently than if you were seeking help for your child's physical health: a brain tumor, diabetes, cancer. What links would you go to in order to find the best person to help your child? Why is it different for their academic needs?


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