Educators Identify Learning Gaps due to COVID-19 in Horace Mann Study

Rhea-AI Summary

According to a March 2021 report by Horace Mann Educators Corporation (NYSE:HMN), over 97% of K-12 educators believe students have experienced significant learning losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The study highlights that 57% of educators feel students are more than three months behind in social-emotional learning. Many educators express concern about the widening gap between struggling and high-performing students. However, the 2021-2022 school year offers potential for recovery as vaccines become available and social distancing guidelines adjust. Suggestions from educators include focusing on key concepts and increasing support for students.

Positive

• 2021-2022 school year may resemble pre-pandemic learning environments.
• Educators are adapting teaching methods to better meet students' needs.

Negative

• 97% of educators report significant learning losses compared to previous years.
• 57% estimate students are over three months behind in social-emotional learning.
• 47% cite widening gaps between academically struggling and high-performing students as a major obstacle.

More than half of public K-12 educators say the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a significant loss of both academic and social-emotional learning for students, according to a March 2021 Horace Mann Educators Corporation (NYSE:HMN) report.

(Graphic: Business Wire)

The report, Closing the Learning Gap, shares insights from the March 2021 Horace Mann Voice of the Educator Study, which surveyed nearly 1,000 U.S. K-12 educators to gain insight into the educational challenges caused or exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the findings:

• Over 97% of educators reported loss of learning by their students over the past year when compared with children in previous years.
• A majority (57%) of educators estimated their students are behind by more than three months in their social-emotional learning progress.
• When asked what the biggest obstacle to return to a “normal” education environment was, nearly half (47%) of educators cited a wider gap between academically struggling and high-performing students.

“For 75 years, Horace Mann has been dedicated to helping educators achieve lifelong financial success, driven by our desire to help those who are taking care of our children,” said Horace Mann President and CEO Marita Zuraitis. “That appreciation and respect has only deepened during the COVID-19 pandemic. Educators are working harder than ever to meet the needs of their students through an environment of constant change, and we are inspired by their enduring commitment to help each student reach their full potential.”

The good news for students is the 2021-2022 school year has strong potential to look more like a pre-pandemic learning environment. Teachers are eligible for COVID-19 vaccines in all 50 states. The Centers for Disease Control lessened social distancing requirements to three feet from six feet for students in most classroom settings, a development largely expected to spur more schools to re-open. Several manufacturers are testing their vaccines on children and expect to release clinical trial results over the summer.

With that in mind, educators have a wealth of ideas to best support students’ progress going forward:

• 53% see a need for a narrower focus on grade-level standards to ensure students learn the most important concepts for their grade level, with many also recommending less focus on standardized test preparation
• 34% would like more paraprofessionals to provide targeted support to struggling students
• 30% requested access to more social-emotional learning resources to help students process the events of the past year

In the Horace Mann study, teachers stressed the need for transparency and involvement in workplace decisions as administrators weigh how to adjust academic practices and curriculum. Many educators emphasized the need for flexibility in adapting to the ever-changing challenges of the pandemic, and patience as teachers, administrators, students and parents navigate an environment none of them have ever faced before.

“In the midst of the upheaval of the 2020-2021 school year, 93% of educators said they were proud of how they adapted their teaching to meet the needs of students, whether in a remote, hybrid or socially distanced in-person learning environment,” said Horace Mann National Business Solutions Executive Kelly Ruwe. “Teachers’ experience on the front lines will be invaluable in charting the way forward: Surfacing new issues that need to be addressed, sharing successful approaches, and advising how our communities can band together to help our children succeed.”

The full report, “Closing the Learning Gap: How frontline educators want to address lost learning due to COVID-19” is available at horacemann.com/closing-the-learning-gap.

About Horace Mann

Horace Mann Educators Corporation (NYSE: HMN) is the largest financial services company focused on providing America’s educators and school employees with insurance and retirement solutions. Founded by Educators for Educators^® in 1945, the company is headquartered in Springfield, Illinois. For more information, visit horacemann.com, or follow us @Horace Mann on Twitter and LinkedIn, and @HoraceMannInsurance on Facebook.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330005322/en/

FAQ

What did the Horace Mann report reveal about K-12 education losses due to COVID-19?

The report indicated that over 97% of educators believe students have faced significant learning losses during the pandemic.

How far behind are students in social-emotional learning according to the Horace Mann study?

A majority of 57% of educators estimated that students are more than three months behind in social-emotional learning.

What challenges do educators face when returning to normal education environments as per HMN's report?

Nearly 47% of educators identified a wider gap between academically struggling and high-performing students as a significant challenge.

What positive developments are expected in the 2021-2022 school year for K-12 education?

The school year may better resemble pre-pandemic environments with vaccines available for teachers and adjusted social distancing guidelines.

What recommendations did educators provide for supporting students post-COVID?

Educators suggested narrowing the focus on grade-level standards and increasing access to social-emotional learning resources.