Teachers report that less than half of their students are participating in online learning (NYT)

[dalton99a]

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/06/us/coronavirus-schools-attendance-absent.html

As School Moves Online, Many Students Stay Logged Out
Teachers at some schools across the country report that less than half of their students are participating in online learning.
By Dana Goldstein, Adam Popescu and Nikole Hannah-Jones
Published April 6, 2020

Chronic absenteeism is a problem in American education during the best of times, but now, with the vast majority of the nation’s school buildings closed and lessons being conducted remotely, more students than ever are missing class — not logging on, not checking in or not completing assignments.

The absence rate appears particularly high in schools with many low-income students, whose access to home computers and internet connections can be spotty. Some teachers report that less than half of their students are regularly participating.

The trend is leading to widespread concern among educators, with talk of a potential need for summer sessions, an early start in the fall, or perhaps having some or even all students repeat a grade once Americans are able to return to classrooms.

Students are struggling to connect in districts large and small. Los Angeles said last week that about a third of its high school students were not logging in for classes. And there are daunting challenges for rural communities like Minford, Ohio, where many students live in remote wooded areas unserved by internet providers.

Educators say that some students and their parents have dropped out of touch with schools completely — unavailable by phone, email or any other form of communication — as families struggle with the broader economic and health effects of the coronavirus outbreak.

Even before the outbreak, chronic absenteeism was a problem in many schools, especially those with a lot of low-income students. Many obstacles can prevent children who live in poverty from making it to class: a parent’s broken-down car or a teenager’s need to babysit siblings, for example. But online learning presents new obstacles, particularly with uneven levels of technology and adult supervision.

[SunSeeker]

1. It will be a lost year. Many will drop out altogether.

God help these kids. Trump sure won't.

[Meowmee]

2. I am happy to say that even though all are not participating in the virtual classes

It is not required, most are communicating via email and handing work in etc. some aren't handing in projects but they do that irl too. There are only 4 who I haven't heard from at all yet.

[Demovictory9]

3. ive read that districts are considering widespread repeat the grade a whole generation loses a year

[roamer65]

4. This is what summer school is meant for.

Pickup where they left off and run into the summer of 2021.

[uponit7771]

5. This won't be over by the summer, not at all

[CottonBear]

8. That won't work. The 2020-2021 school year starts in early August 2020.

I don’t believe that the next school year will be starting in August 2020.

I have an elementary school kid. Online learning is a challenge. We have good internet and a school issued laptop. However, only certain grade levels get laptops. The younger kids and those without internet access get school work packets every 4-6 weeks. The completed work is turned back in when new packets are ready.

[ProfessorGAC]

9. Mid-August At Worst

Now a retired scientist, I substitute, especially in the winter. (November to February, I subbed 49 times, and turned away dozens, either because I didn't want to work more, or there were more than one on the same day)
I work in 10 different districts because I only do 7-12, science & math. The latest any of those districts went back the third full week of August. The rest were sooner.
Because of a snowy winter in early 2019, 7 of these districts went into June.
So, summer school was, at best, only 8 weeks. Likely 6 or 7.

[EarthFirst]

6. Yet another glaring disparity in society...

You can have educators rise to the occasion and create a distance learning program from scratch on a moments notice; however when it comes down to it; access to the technology that is necessary to accomplish these goals creates an enormous disadvantage for many American families with school aged children.

[no_hypocrisy]

7. I'm a substitute teacher and I'm not surprised.

I've been in the classroom in person with kids from Kindergarten to Eighth Grade. If left to their own devices and initiative, more than half the students will opt to do anything but school work. I have to dedicate almost all my skills, my strategies to get two pages of classwork done in 40+ minutes. The older kids can be found on their phones or socializing. Unless you have a carrot-stick system in place (e.g., zero for grade, lunch detention, etc.), most kids will not want to do their school work.