COVID-19 Early Literacy Loss: Strategies for States

In 2019, 35% of fourth-grade students in the U.S. performed at or above NAEP proficient in reading—accounting for just one of every three students. Students of color and those living in poverty or rural areas had an even lower probability of achieving proficiency. And this is before a projected COVID-19 learning loss. In many states, district and school leaders are hard at work developing plans to make up for lost time, keenly aware that beginning-of-year knowledge gaps may be larger than ever. So, how can teachers and students be supported when they return to school in the fall? States and districts can consider implementing the following strategies and using these resources to establish a new normal in education.