According to the Glossary of Educational Reform, learning loss refers to any specific or general loss of knowledge and skills or a reversal in academic progress, most commonly due to extended gaps or discontinuities in a student’s education.

     Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, students have an educational gap from March of 2020 to May of the same year when online school was used. This gap could be considered longer, if you factor in that according to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, one in five households are not connected to the internet, or that many kids were not efficient during online school.

     With that large gap of learning, it is possible for learning loss to apply to the students of West Albany.

      “I have three students in my first-period class [who] have been tardy five times or more to my class,” language arts teacher Margie Graves said, “so that means they’re being tardy to others, and I’ve never had to deal with that amount before.” 

     Graves expresses concerns about the loosening of punishments for tardies and the lack of drive to strive beyond passing. Math teacher Bryce Johnson has a similar opinion. 

     “Over the last few years, I have seen a lot of students struggle in math because they are lacking a solid foundation of math concepts,” Johnson said. “Many students have told me that through all three years of middle school, they did little to no math work. These students are now struggling in Algebra 1 because they did not learn the standards that they were supposed to be learning the last three years.” Johnson says

      “I do not think this shows that students are not able to learn new math concepts,” Johnson said, “but rather shows that many students are behind because they have not put in enough effort over the last few years to learn the required material.”

     Both teachers note a difference in how students act now compared to before the pandemic. Behavior, effort, attention, and tardies are all things these two teachers point out that students do differently than students from the past. 

     With these changes, there is a strong case for learning loss being a real threat to students’ education. The lack of prior knowledge in subjects like math may cause some students to struggle to grasp new concepts.

     However, this doesn’t mean it’s impossible to patch up the gaps caused by Learning Loss. With the right mentality and willingness to strive past just getting by, it is entirely possible for a student to pass any class.