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date: 02 December 2024

The Impact of COVID-19 Laws, Policies, and Practices on Educational Equitylocked

The Impact of COVID-19 Laws, Policies, and Practices on Educational Equitylocked

  • Nate Hutcherson, Nate HutchersonLynch School of Education and Human Development, Boston College
  • Sergio D. Barragán, Sergio D. BarragánLynch School of Education and Human Development, Boston College
  • Shadman IslemShadman IslemLynch School of Education and Human Development, Boston College
  • , and Raquel MuñizRaquel MuñizLynch School of Education and Human Development, Law School, Boston College

Summary

K–12 education and higher education in the United States were drastically affected by COVID-19. Local, state, and federal leaders’ decisions in response to the pandemic were meant to protect the health of their communities. These decisions included school closures across the country, vaccine mandates in some states, and bans on vaccine mandates in other states. Additionally, educational institutions made adaptations to education that resulted in widespread differences in students’ educational environments. These adaptations included remote learning in the K–12 and higher education contexts, changes to student support services, and changes in standardized testing requirements for higher education admissions applications.

The result of these decisions and adaptations were educational laws, policies, and practices that were not equally enjoyed and experienced by all students but rather further exacerbated preexisting educational disparities. Marginalized students, including low-income individuals, students of color, first-generation students, and English Learners, already faced significant barriers to fully engage in their education prepandemic. The inequities of pandemic responses only served to further entrench these disadvantages. These efforts raise important considerations for future research, policy, and practice that can curb the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and future crises.

Subjects

  • Educational Politics and Policy
  • Education and Society

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