Large numbers of parents say their children fell behind in school and experienced behavioral problems during the pandemic, according to a new poll.
The survey, conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation, found that nearly 4 in 10 parents with school-age children say that at least one of their children fell behind academically in the last year. Parents whose children attended school all or mostly online last year were more likely to say they had a child fall behind academically than those whose children had all or mostly in-person instruction, 47% versus 26%.
PANDEMIC CLOSURES LIKELY TO LEAVE PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS FURTHER BEHIND IN FALL
This is consistent with prior research on online learning. A recent study by Curriculum Associates found that while historically, 48% of first graders read at grade level by winter, that had fallen to 38% during the pandemic.
The poll also found considerable emotional and behavioral problems among school-age children. Almost 3 in 10 parents said at least one child developed mental health or behavioral problems during the pandemic. The most common problem reported was a greater difficulty in concentrating on schoolwork (27%), followed by increased nervousness (19%) and sleeping problems (18%).
In addition, 36% said that their children fell behind in emotional and social development during the pandemic.
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Mothers were more likely than fathers to say that their children had developed problems during the pandemic, 47% to 37%.
