Millions of U.S. Children Are Being Failed by the Education System During the Pandemic

Press Release (ePRNews.com) - PORTSMOUTH, N.H. - Apr 20, 2021 - 93% of school children in the U.S. lack the combination of supervision, internet connectivity and/or suitable large-screen devices to succeed in remote learning. 38 million (78%) school children are struggling with multiple disadvantages, most notably the lack of a full-time caregiver. 73% of students Grades 1-12 are still in some sort of remote learning situation due to Covid-19 restrictions. Analysis by Wisdom Reporting of the latest American Community Survey data, and the latest Household Pulse Survey revealed the most at-risk children during remote learning and the Covid-19 pandemic.

Money isn’t the only problem. The most at-risk students are those whose families have the lowest incomes. However, students in households where all possible caregivers are working have higher household incomes but lack full-time supervision. Employers, educators, and the government need to work together to find solutions that support the most at-risk children in America.

New Hampshire based Signum University is one example of how educators are helping. Signum has been developing engaging, synchronous online education for a decade in a higher education context, and quickly saw how their offering could be adapted to benefit at-risk children.

“In a crisis like this, everyone needs to help out however they can,” says Corey Olsen, President, Signum University. “Millions of kids have struggled through poorly designed, hurriedly started remote learning programs over the last year, and so we at Signum University looked for opportunities to assist. We started by offering training to teachers wanting to design engaging online classes and recently started extracurricular clubs for kids, providing them with a remote learning experience that really works.”

The most at-risk children are in Southern states and are more likely to be minorities. About a third of students in Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Arkansas lack all three of the essential factors to succeed in remote learning: connectivity, technology, and supervision. Children in rural areas are most likely to be at risk. African American and Hispanic children are also more likely to be in the most high-risk groups. Support options need to be geared to provide additional support where needed.

About Wisdom Reporting. Wisdom Reporting is a for-profit organization that uses data science to uncover truths about the world that can be used to make better decisions that help people.

About Signum University. Signum University is 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational institution dedicated to making affordable online education available to all. https://signumuniversity.org/academy

About the American Community Survey (ACS). The ACS is the premier source for detailed population and housing information about our nation. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs

About the US Household Pulse Survey (HPS). The HPS provides timely data to provide insight on factors like education. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/household-pulse-survey.html

Contact. To learn more about this report; the full story and the methodology please visit: https://wisdomreporting.com/education/2021/04/americas-forgotten-children

Or write to us at info@wisdomreporting.com

###