Across the nation, educators are responding valiantly to an unprecedented health crisis and its ramifications for students, educators, and communities. Leaders and staff are charting new courses for this unique time. Educators’ efforts to navigate this challenging situation and commitment to their students is an inspiration.
- Dr. Heather Mullins, Chief Academic Officer Newton-Conover City Schools, North Carolina
All of us—students, parents, educators, policy makers, and researchers—share an interest in learning from this event. To improve services to students and families as we move forward, we need information on what districts and charter management organizations are doing and plan to do to address COVID-19. To that end, from mid-May through June 2020, we are asking school district and charter management organization leaders to respond to a nationally representative survey of school districts and charter management organizations—more than 2,500 in total—about the actions they have taken and the challenges they have encountered during the COVID-19-related school closures. This knowledge will inform the best approach to serving students as we face new challenges.
The survey addresses how school districts and charter management organizations are coping with issues related to school closures, including the timing of school closures due to COVID-19; distance learning approaches and challenges; supporting students with disabilities and English language learners; district policies and requirements, such as grading and graduation; staffing and human resources; and health, well-being, and safety.
The project will provide actionable information to educators, policymakers, and researchers to inform future education practices beyond the initial public health crisis.
Next Steps
The project team will share initial results in June 2020 and more detailed results in August 2020. We will continue to share updates throughout the 2020–2021 school year. Project updates, research briefs, email communication, and events will be shared via this website. We encourage district and charter management organization leaders to request additional analyses.
We will provide results for the nation as a whole, as well as for key subgroups, including small and large districts; urban, suburban, and rural districts; and high- and low-poverty districts.