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Teaching & Learning
Rigorous Educational Research in the Wake of the Pandemic

For the past two and half years, the RESTART Network  has been tasked with conducting a systematic search for studies on district and school activities focusing in COVID-19 pandemic recovery and academic acceleration.  We identified and reviewed academic recovery studies published between January 2020 and March 2024. We focused on critical topics identified by policymakers, school leaders and practitioners as imperative.

Student Experiences through the COVID-19 Pandemic: Attendance, Online Learning Platform Use, and Annual Survey Reports
This report shares key findings about students' experiences in Chicago Public Schools during the pandemic, including absentee rates and feelings of stronger relationships between teachers and students.
Examining the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Elementary Students' Internalizing and Externalizing Behaviors in Schools Implementing Tiered Systems
This journal article investigates differences in students' levels of internalizing and externalizing behaviors as well as school referrals for special education services from before and after the onset of the pandemic.
Educating America: Progress and Challenges in Providing All Youth With The Education They Need for Adult Success
This report highlights trends on multiple attainment indicators to measure the state of schools after the pandemic, including chronic absenteeism, achievement metrics, high school graduation rates, and postsecondary enrollment and attainment.
5 Things to Know About Learning Loss and Recovery in Massachusetts
This brief shares information on trends of learning loss and recovery in Massachusetts and its impact on specific student groups.
The Benefit of a Research-Practice Partnership During an Educational Disruption

During our fall 2024 convening of the RESTART Network’s Core Research Teams, I was struck by an ongoing theme I heard from each team as they reflected on the research they conducted on pandemic recovery: having a pre-existing research-practice partnership (RPP) was essential to their ability to respond quickly to needs that emerged during the crisis. It was also key to the success of the research they were able to collaborate on during and after the pandemic. 

In School, Engaged, on Track? The Effect of the Pandemic on Student Attendance, Course Grades, and Grade Retention in North Carolina
This journal article examines the effects of the pandemic on student attendance, course grades, and grade retention in North Carolina in 2020–2021 and 2021–2022 using descriptive and regression analyses.
Efficacy of Online Learning Assessment Tools for COVID-19 Recovery Intervention
This report investigate the effectiveness of using the i-Ready Personalized Instruction platform to promote student acceleration in the wake of the pandemic in a metro-Atlanta school district.
Connections and Choice For High Schoolers
This article describes the interest-based learning approach of Metropolitan Regional Career and Technical Center (the Met) in Rhode Island, which addresses students' need for connection to adults and the world beyond the classroom.
The Lasting Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on K-12 Schooling: Evidence from a Nationally Representative Teacher Survey
This report shares findings from a nationally representative survey of K-12 teachers in May 2023 that analyzes the potential long-term impacts of COVID-19 on public schools by examining school operations, instructional practices, and parent-teacher interactions.