Students’ academic performance suffered from pandemic-related changes to their learning, but what Omaha PS is doing to change that

OMAHA, Nebraska – Nationwide, the academic performance of kids was negatively impacted by pandemic-related disruptions to their learning.

According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, math and reading scores in U.S. public schools experienced an unprecedented decline.

From the 2018-2019 school year to the 2020-2021 school year, the percentage of pupils attaining proficiency levels in English and mathematics at Omaha Public Schools decreased. According to the Nebraska Department of Education, the percentage of proficient students in English and mathematics fell by five and ten percentage points, respectively.

“When students are absent from the classroom, they lack this community of learners. They may not have access to an instructor who can provide fast, descriptive feedback on their reasoning. Susanne Cramer, OPS’s executive director of school improvement, stated that sometimes the degree of student participation did not meet expectations.

“Being present, returning, and having access to enriched learning experiences that are enjoyable and improve conceptual comprehension will set them up for success,” she added.

Currently, students are back in class. 6 News inquired about the district’s efforts to aid academic recovery.

Cramer stated, “We are introducing high-quality resources in all of our classes, with an emphasis on early literacy and progress in reading and mathematics at the middle school level.”

Several of the initiatives include:

Expanded, targeted tutoring outside of school hours
An additional month of summer schooling
A “Portrait of a Graduate” initiative to establish social and behavioral standards.

According to the dean of students at Marrs Middle School, the social element is essential for fostering an effective learning environment. Their ideal description of an OPS graduate is as follows: “Critical thinking. Ability to communicate. Being able to work together effectively. Create new concepts. Being a global citizen and a resilient achiever, as stated by Juanita DeLeon.

Adopting these elements into our teachings, informing our students and teachers about what they are, and incorporating them into our classrooms is essential.

The district received 280 million dollars from the federal government to aid in the recovery of elementary and senior schools from learning loss caused by the pandemic. In describing how they intend to use that money, these and other programs are listed.

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