The global pandemic has disrupted learning for students all across the country. Education has shifted to virtual classrooms that simply aren’t as engaging or user-friendly as a traditional classroom. The early closing of schools at the beginning of 2020, followed by the switch to virtual learning, also has many parents and educators concerned about the learning loss occurring among students.
A recent study published by Brown University estimates students are returning to school with only 66 percent of the learning gains of reading and 44 percent of the learning gains in math relative to a typical school year. When the school does finally return to normal, educators expect students to come back with vastly different learning levels. The achievement gap between students is also expected to widen significantly.
Given the achievement gap worries, many parents have been turning to after-school programs to supplement their child’s education.
The impact of after-school programs on parents
One issue many parents are struggling with right now is the need for childcare. During the school year, the class served as childcare for many parents across the country. Now that classrooms are virtual, however, parents have to be home all day with their children. After-school programs offer parents an outlet to drop off their children and receive a few hours of free time where work can get done and errands can be run.
After-school programs also offer a safe space for kids to spend time. Your children can safely interact with other students while in a nurturing environment that encourages learning and understanding. These programs help students build relationships not just with other students but also with educators. After-school programs are known for supporting a more diverse demographic of educators than are typically found within schools. According to Education Week, about 80 percent of school teachers are white and female. Exposing students to diverse groups of people helps broaden their perspective and gives them a wider sense of the world.
Educational after-school programs also take the pressure off of parents to be a teacher. Many parents have been struggling to help their children bridge the learning gap during the global pandemic. Kids are now turning to their parents for more help with assignments and more questions on understanding material since they can’t ask these questions during class as easily. Working parents often don’t have time to assist their children with homework, not to mention it can be difficult to help when you don’t understand the material yourself. After-school programs take the pressure off parents to fill that teacher role by giving students the extra instruction they need to understand a lesson fully.
The impact of after-school programs on students
The educational benefits of after-school programs are more valuable now more than ever. As learning loss threatens student performance, educational programs offer a way to supplement school learning and avoid the achievement gap. If your child is worried about falling behind or struggling with a particular subject matter due to online learning, one-to-one tutoring at an after-school program can ensure your child stays at the appropriate learning level.
Educational after-school programs not only advance your child’s academic learning during this difficult time, but they can improve emotional learning too. Supportive educational programs give students confidence in their intelligence and academic performance. This is vitally important to a child’s mental health during this COVID-19 season. Students’ lives have been disrupted in so many ways, and for many, it’s taken a toll on their mental well-being. If a student starts struggling academically during this time, it could damage self-esteem and lead to even greater learning problems.
What to know about joining an after-school program during COVID-19
Like School-Connection, many after-school programs have taken steps to navigate the global pandemic so they can still offer educational services to families in need. For instance, School-Connection offers both distanced learning opportunities through Zoom and in-person classes for students who need extra help with their homework. The availability of both in-person and virtual instruction ensures School-Connection can accommodate your child’s learning style and meet them where they’re at because some students simply do better with face-to-face instruction.
Even though in-person programs are available, School-Connection is still taking all of the necessary safety precautions to keep the space clean and low-risk. For example, sanitizing stations are available, and masks are required for students and educators while working inside the School-Connect facility. Until things return to normal, masks and sanitizing stations should be a regular aspect of any after-school program you join.
If you’re interested in learning more about after-school programs and other programs we offer, contact School-Connection today.
