Author: Dr. Gislaine N. Ngounou
Urgency over national report card distracts from longstanding challenges
Re “Leaders called slow to fight lag in learning: Advocates seek quicker use of aid” (Page A1, Oct. 25): The education sector has seen unprecedented disruption. Over the past three years, students, families, educators, and communities have navigated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, ongoing racism, a toxic sociopolitical climate, recurring gun violence, a struggling economy, and more.
The National Assessment of Educational Progress report highlighting learning loss comes as no surprise. However, the loud ringing of alarm bells feels like a distraction from the need for deep conversations about the challenges education faced long before the pandemic. At best, these data prompt us to ask about what constitutes learning and who gets to decide, interrogate, and expand our understanding of how learning happens.