Accelerating Student Academic Recovery. Overview Brief #26: Academic Acceleration

Three years after the onset of the pandemic, there is little evidence of academic recovery in the U.S. The latest data reveal a sobering reality: In spite of many school districts' efforts to accelerate learning, students remain far behind pre-pandemic levels of achievement. Even more troubling, many students did not accelerate their progress at all last year; on average, their rate of learning decelerated, putting them even further behind. Between fall 2022 and spring 2023, according to a recent study, students in grades 4-8 made significantly slower progress in reading and math than was typical in pre-pandemic years (and progress was especially slow for students attending high-poverty schools and students of color). Schools have always looked for ways to accelerate the progress of students achieving below grade level. However, researchers have found that some of the most common approaches to helping those students catch up to their peers (such as grade retention, accelerating entry into advanced courses, and providing optional, on-demand virtual resources) tend to be ineffective. At times, such interventions even exacerbate inequalities, having negative long-term effects that outweigh any benefits students may experience in the short term. In that case, what can educators do to identify and support students who've struggled academically since the onset of the pandemic? Fortunately, certain interventions have proven to be effective at helping students catch up and keep making progress, while allowing them to participate in core classes with their peers. This brief is an updated and revised edition, building upon the original EdResearch Brief "School Practices to Address Student Learning Loss."