Some children, particularly low-income students, suffered educational setbacks during the COVID-19 pandemic. | Adobe Stock
Some children, particularly low-income students, suffered educational setbacks during the COVID-19 pandemic. | Adobe Stock
Illinois State Rep. Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield) is speaking out about the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the school system and school-aged children.
In a recent Facebook post, Batinick said, "There's no doubt that the pandemic has disrupted our state's education system. It's time to renew our focus on providing Illinois students with a high-quality education and the essentials for a successful future."
According to Capitol News Illinois, Pre-K-12 enrollment in Illinois decreased by 3.6%, or roughly 70,000 students, in 2020-2021. It was estimated that 22.8% of Illinois students missed 10% or more of their school days during that school year.
“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, Illinois State Board of Education's Research and Evaluation Officer, told Capitol News Illinois. "We suspect that less access to in-person learning contributed to lower engagement among black and Hispanic students.”
There was a decrease in the number of students demonstrating grade-level proficiency in math and English language arts, with 17.8% fewer students demonstrating math proficiency and 16.6% fewer students demonstrating English proficiency.
There was a smaller decline in enrollment at schools that offered more in-person instruction compared to those that used mostly remote instruction, according to Illinois Policy.
The Illinois State Board of Education announced a $17 million grant to establish a supplemental learning program for students affected by school closures. Students from low-income families will benefit from the program.
Unicef's October 2021 report found that government-mandated lockdowns and school closures negatively impacted children's well-being. These events are associated with fear, anxiety, stress, depression, alcohol and drug abuse, loss of learning and a lack of physical activity.
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