INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) recently presented updated findings from the state’s ongoing study of COVID-19’s academic impact and student learning recovery. The results show that while learning is stabilizing or recovering for many students, targeted interventions must continue in order to accelerate academic momentum for all Hoosier students, particularly among certain grade cohorts and student populations.
Indiana has partnered with the National Center for Assessment for the last three years to measure the academic impact of the pandemic-related learning disruptions. To inform this analysis, data points from two Indiana assessments were considered, including statewide results from the spring 2023 Indiana Learning Evaluation and Assesment Readiness Network (ILEARN) and WIDA assessments. Statewide, 40.7% of Indiana’s students are at or above proficiency standards in English/language arts (ELA), and 40.9% of students are at or above proficiency standards in math.
Key takeaways from the analysis include –
• Statewide ILEARN results reflect a modest increase in math across all grade levels. The highest increases were in grade four (1.3 percentage points), grade six (2.8 percentage points), and grade eight (1.6 percentage points).
• Most grade levels remained relatively stable in ELA. Grade six (1.8 percentage point increase) and grade seven (2.9 percentage point decrease) are the exception.
• Black students have proficiency percentage point increases in both ELA and math following the pandemic.
• Hispanic students, students eligible for free and reduced lunch, students in special education, as well as English Learner (EL) students have proficiency percentage point increases in math specifically.
• Increased targeted support is still needed in ELA for middle school students, as well as English learners.
Students are continuing to stabilize or accelerate/recover in math following the pandemic. The rate at which students are stabilizing or accelerating/recovering in ELA varies by student population.
Students who were not proficient in ELA and math prior to the pandemic are not recovering at the same rate as their peers. Students who were proficient in ELA and math prior to the pandemic continue to stabilize and accelerate their rates of learning.
Black students, as well as students eligible for free and reduced lunch are now stabilizing across all grade levels in both ELA and math. Hispanic and EL students will need continued targeted support.