SOUTH JERSEY (KYW Newsradio) — Learning remotely for a year or more has left many students across the board with learning loss, but U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said the coronavirus pandemic exacerbated the disparities between school districts.
The pandemic widened achievement gaps among kids in wealthy districts and students in lower-income ones — an issue Cardona and his team have been working to mitigate.
“The health disparities were made worse also, so the efforts in this administration to make sure testing is available, vaccinations are available, is part of the strategy,” he said.
“One size does not fit all. And in some communities I’ve visited across the country, there were infrastructure issues in schools, ventilation issues. In other communities, there was a great deal of fear because of the trauma experienced because of loss of life, loss of jobs. So our job is to make sure we have clear guidance: We’re supporting districts, the resources are there and we’re moving them forward.”
Cardona toured South Jersey schools and colleges on Friday and joined a roundtable discussion with U.S. Rep. Donald Norcross, students and education leaders. He said he expects every student across the country to return to school buildings this year.
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“I’m confident that with the resources and the support that we’re providing at the agency through different handbooks, daily communication with states, daily communication with superintendents, listening and providing feedback on best practices, I’m confident we’re going to build back better,” Cardona assured.
The secretary’s national travel blitz spanned schools across the country to highlight key education provisions of the Build Back Better agenda.
Cardona noted federal funding helped pay for new HVAC systems and other improvements to make buildings safer for students and staff this year and beyond.