Understanding Pandemic Related Academic
Impact: An Overview
Damian Betebenner & Adam Van Iwaarden
Center for Assessment
Prepared for the Hawaii DOE
May 10, 2021
State Plan for the American Rescue Plan Elementary and
Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund
• Describing the State’s Current Status and Needs (p. 4)
• #3: “Identifying Needs of Underserved Students: Describe your State’s
2-3 highest priority academic, social, emotional, and/or mental
health needs for the remainder of the 2020-2021 school year (if
applicable) and for the 2021-2022 school year related to the impact
of the COVID-19 pandemic on each of the following student groups:”
• “To the extent possible, this description should include data on
indicators such as estimates of the academic impact of lost
instructional time (i.e., “learning loss”) chronic absenteeism, student
engagement, and social-emotional well-being.”
Understanding Pandemic Related Academic Impact
Understanding pandemic related academic impact
• With the data Hawaii has from its state assessments, they are well
positioned to investigate and address the academic impact of COVID-19.
• We are currently working with several states (including Hawaii, AZ, MA,
RI, GA, CO) to support inferences from state assessments about the
academic impact of the pandemic on students.
• Indiana, for example, passed legislation was passed requiring the DOE
to produce annual reports that include analyses regarding pandemic
related academic impact and recovery.
• Their ESSER state plan response details the learning loss report as
evidence of compliance.
• A focal point of Center work over the last 6 months is to support such
inferences.
Understanding Pandemic Related Academic Impact
Understanding pandemic related academic impact
• Hawaii is well positioned with it current assessments (SBAC and ACCESS) to
derive academic impact data from those assessments.
• See the attached learning loss paper for more details.
• For example, Indiana will use its state summative test (ILEARN) and WIDA-
ACCESS results to determine academic impact.
• The question is not so much how or if but whether Hawaii wants to pursue
that direction.
• Potential Problems:
• Low participation rates (< 50%) might cause issues with infernces.
• Leadership not wanting to report/emphasize academic impact
• Public reporting of data won’t align with academic impact use.
Understanding Pandemic Related Academic Impact
Questions
Understanding Pandemic Related Academic Impact
About this copy
Understanding Pandemic Related Academic Impact: An Overview — Hawaii Department of Education, May 10, 2021.
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