IES to Conduct Research on Learning Loss
In an early executive order, President Biden tasked the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) with administering a survey to explore how school instruction has evolved in response to the pandemic, spurring the current national survey effort sampling elementary and middle schools’ instruction methods.
According to IES, this survey will be administered every month throughout 2021 to track longitudinal changes. IES also plans to launch a new “School Pulse” survey in August that will include high schools in assessment.
IES is working closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to gather COVID-related data on schools and is focusing on mitigating learning loss and promote learning recovery. As part of the effort to combat learning loss, IES is exploring how artificial intelligence can conduct intelligent tutoring and support students with disabilities in partnership with the National Science Foundation. IES is also looking to states, districts, and schools for effective strategies and ensuring students with disabilities, homeless students, and children in foster care are given additional learning support.
The American Rescue Plan will provide IES $100 million to support this research.