NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee education officials are predicting a big hit to student learning due to interruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic.
On Wednesday, the state Department of Education projected a 50% decrease in reading proficiency rates and a 65% drop in math among third graders.
At a news conference, Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn said it will take more than a school year to make up for the learning loss resulting from school closures, time off and virtual learning shifts.
Schwinn says the projections are based off a study done in June by her department and partnering organizations, district-level data and beginning-of-the-year assessment results from more than 30,000 students.