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Educational inequality: Post-pandemic patterns and trends

The podcast "album cover" with a photo of the guest, Sean Reardon, the title of the show, School's In, the title of the episode, Educational inequality: Post-pandemic patterns and trends, and the Stanford GSE logo

Educational inequality: Post-pandemic patterns and trends

Sean Reardon talks about educational inequalities exacerbated by the pandemic, and what’s needed to chart a path forward.

Pandemic-related learning loss has been a hot-button issue for educators, parents, and students as researchers work to navigate its consequences. Part of the recovery process means identifying how far-reaching the effects of learning loss are, what can be done about it, and who was hardest hit. 

“Declines in test scores were more than twice as big in the poorest communities in the country than they were in the most affluent,” said Sean Reardon, Professor of Poverty and Inequality in Education at Stanford Graduate School of Education (GSE).

“And so that means that kids in those communities are much, much further behind.”

On this episode of School’s In, Reardon joins hosts GSE Dean Dan Schwartz and Senior Lecturer Denise Pope as they discuss educational inequalities exacerbated by the pandemic and what’s needed to chart a path forward.

Reardon’s research sheds light on key issues including the impact of poverty and inequality on educational opportunities and how parents can work with teachers to advocate for their children.

“I think we owe some gratitude to teachers and principals who I think really have helped students out a lot post-pandemic, and we've made real progress,” Reardon said.

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Faculty mentioned in this article: Dan Schwartz, Denise Pope, sean reardon

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