Many children struggled with learning loss due to school closures and remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. | Kenny Eliason/Unsplash
Many children struggled with learning loss due to school closures and remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. | Kenny Eliason/Unsplash
Illinois state Rep. and District 51 candidate, Chris Bos, recently shared his thoughts on school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"I think in the beginning it was a case of people taking (precautions) to do what was in the best interest of kids, but at some point, that changed," Bos told the Lake County Gazette. "Once we knew kids were not spreading it or contracting it on high levels, I don't think it was prudent to keep schools closed. Kids suffered most from it all, they now have big hurdles to overcome."
A UNICEF report from October 2021 found that government-mandated lockdowns and school closures negatively impacted children, leading to more fear, stress, anxiety, depression, alcohol and drug abuse, loss of learning, irregular physical activity and sleeping habits.
"A lot of parents wonder why what happened to their kids did when there is still no clear justification for it," Bos said.
He also said decisions on school closures should be made at a local level.
“We live in a big diverse state and to assume everything should be handled the same is ludicrous, Bos said. “I think the state needs to allow for local control and accountability. That way data can be used on local levels to make the best determinations."
Enrollment in Pre-K-12 schools in Illinois declined by 3.6%, or roughly 70,000 students, during the 2020-2021 school year, according to Capitol News Illinois. Chronic absenteeism increased during that school year, with 22.8% of all Illinois students missing 10% or more of all school days. The number of students who exhibited grade level competence in math and English language arts decreased, with 17.8% fewer students demonstrating proficiency in math and 16.6% fewer students demonstrating proficiency in English.
“We know from national studies from the (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) that school districts serving primarily Black and Hispanic students provided the least access to in-person learning last year,” Brenda Dixon ISBE’s research and evaluation officer said, according to Capitol News. “We suspect that less access to in-person learning contributed to lower engagement among Black and Hispanic students.”
School districts that offered more in-person learning saw smaller declines in enrollment than schools that used mostly remote learning, Illinois Policy reported.
In March, the ISBE announced a $17 million grant to establish a supplemental learning program for students impacted by learning loss due to school closures, according to the Dewitt Daily News. The program will be geared specifically towards low-income students.
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