The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the closure of more than 124,000 public and private schools, leaving more than 55 million primary and secondary school students at home. For many students, these school closures have largely put their learning, and their preparation for their academic futures, on hold. As this tumultuous semester winds down, the COVID-19 era has revealed how many education organizations are ready to adapt and meet students’ needs in this trying moment. We’re also finding out just how well alternative educational models can work.

Take, for instance, college entrance exams. As with schools and many businesses, SAT and ACT testing sites are being closed across the country to prevent further transmission of the virus, leaving many juniors, who would otherwise take the tests around this time, in the lurch. The College Board, the company that oversees the SAT, issued refunds after canceling its March and May testing dates. ACT Inc. postponed its April ACT testing date to June.