SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Learning during the COVID-19 pandemic has meant students have fallen behind over the past year according to a new survey of teachers.
Roughly 95% of Illinois teachers said they’ve seen some — or significant — learning loss just a little below the national response to the Horace Mann survey.
The Springfield-based financial services company talked to nearly 1,000 K-12 teachers and administrators in the past two months. Kelly Ruwe, national business solutions executive at Horace Mann, said they suggested a path forward.
“We know there’s a lot that we have to learn every single year. Let’s focus on what are the most important items and then give us a chance to learn some of those foundational concepts,” Ruwe told WBBM.
The survey found Illinois educators were teaching in person less than their national counterparts and identified their biggest concern for students as mental health as well as the gap between those doing well and struggling academically.