Liliana Drew via Pexels, Cropped by Resist the Mainstream

Four years ago this month marked the onset of a pivotal moment in the pandemic narrative, as schools nationwide commenced shutdowns, sparking a contentious and politically charged debate.

While some schools, predominantly in Republican-led states and rural areas, resumed in-person instruction by fall 2020, others, primarily situated in urban centers and states governed by Democrats, deferred full reopening for an additional year.

Extensive data amassed over time, encompassing children’s academic performance and the transmission of Covid-19, has led to widespread recognition among numerous public health and education experts.

They now concede that prolonged school closures failed to significantly impede the spread of Covid-19. Conversely, the adverse academic repercussions for children have proven substantial and enduring.

In a recent op-ed piece from The New York Times, an acknowledgment surfaced, affirming that Republicans largely held the correct stance regarding policies that kept children out of school during the pandemic, contrasting with the misjudgments of Democrats.

Research reported by The Times indicates that while poverty and various socio-economic factors contributed, remote learning emerged as a principal catalyst for academic regression during the pandemic, a conclusion corroborated across different income brackets.

Analysis conducted by The Times, in conjunction with Harvard and Stanford, revealed a compelling correlation between remote learning and declining test scores, both at the state and local levels. This correlation persisted even when controlling for other variables.

Similarly, a separate study examining 10,000 schools arrived at analogous conclusions.

Districts favoring remote or hybrid learning throughout the 2020-21 academic year witnessed substantial setbacks in math performance, far exceeding those experienced by districts prioritizing in-person instruction.

The report emphasizes the enduring challenges posed by the pandemic-induced learning losses, especially among students in districts with prolonged periods of remote or hybrid learning.

While acknowledging the complexity of the decisions made during the pandemic, the report underscores the imperative of prioritizing in-person learning whenever feasible, noting that even partial in-person instruction yielded superior outcomes compared to fully remote models.

Despite attempts by Democrats to justify their approach to education during the pandemic, experts cited in the report refute claims that school closures effectively curbed the spread of the virus. The report attempts to grapple with the nuanced repercussions of pandemic-era education policies, acknowledging the absence of straightforward solutions at the time.

Among Republican leaders, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis emerged as a prominent advocate for reopening schools and resuming in-person learning, characterizing stringent measures as infringing on individual liberties. DeSantis' proactive stance in spring 2020 propelled Florida to the forefront of the national conversation on school reopening efforts.