Bipartisan Education Policy and Advocacy Organization, Advance Illinois, Releases New Report Looking at the Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Education in Illinois

The State We’re In 2022: A Look at the Impact of COVID-19 on Education in Illinois, focuses on the impact of the global pandemic within early childhood, K-12, and higher education during the 2020-2021 school year. 

Contact: 
Taryn Williams 
Eucarol  Juarez 
communications@advanceillinois.org 

CHICAGO, IL (August 4, 2022) – Today, Advance Illinois released its report, The State We’re In 2022: A Look at the Impact of COVID-19 on Education in Illinois. This edition of The State We’re In focuses on the effect the COVID-19 pandemic has had on Illinois school communities during the 2020-2021 school year. The report looks at notable changes in student enrollment, access to instruction and student supports, academic progress, and social-emotional well-being by examining data from early childhood through higher education according to region, ethnicity, language, household income, and learning style.  

“Any way you slice it, COVID-19 has had a profound effect on education and care across Illinois and throughout the country,” said Robin Steans, president of Advance Illinois. “Despite heroic and creative efforts from teachers, families, and leaders at every level, the reality is that the pandemic has amplified existing inequities across lines of race, income, geography, and educational need.” 

While the report is sobering, Steans suggests that the news should not be demoralizing, but serve as a call to arms for ongoing investment and focus. “This report sheds light on the work needed in the coming years to overcome the significant educational disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, but also spotlights places where concerted effort mitigated serious challenges.”  

The edition is unlike previous editions of The State We’re In. Typically, a biennial publication, this report will not contain national comparisons, but will focus on Illinois-specific information, given changes to data quality and availability, as well as COVID-19's massive disruptions to the context in which meaningful data exists.  

The report examines four key areas including enrollment, K-12 equitable access to instruction, student well-being, and K-12 academic outcomes. Among the findings in the report:  

• Enrollment: Nearly every level of education in Illinois saw declines in enrollment that exceeded historical trends and cannot be explained by demographic shifts. This was especially pronounced for early learners (ages birth through 5) and students enrolled in community colleges. 

• Equitable Access to Instruction: Inequitable access to digital infrastructure posed a barrier for K-12 students in remote learning environments, contributing to growing race-based disparities in attendance and inequities in access to high quality classroom instruction. 

• Support and Resources for Students’ Well-Being: Disruptions to schooling left significant gaps in K-12 students’ social-emotional development, putting pressure on already inadequate staffing of counselors, social workers, and psychologists.  

• K-12 Academic Outcomes: Although there are critical gaps in the data, available information suggests that K-12 proficiency on standardized assessments and 9th grade On-Track rates declined substantially. 

The report also highlights just a few of the valiant efforts of state and local leaders, who worked creatively to address critical issues - expanding access to laptops, finding creative ways to expand internet and broadband access, taking bold steps to stabilize the state’s system of early childhood education and care, and finding measures to support student well-being.   

Steans adds, “we salute the many heroes around the state who have navigated this once-in-a-century event, and look forward to working with them, not just to respond to ongoing needs, but to use this moment to learn and grow as we support the next generation to reach its full potential.” 

Readers can access the full 2022 edition of The State We’re In report here or by visiting advanceillinois.org.  

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About Advance Illinois 
Advance Illinois is an independent policy and advocacy organization working toward a healthy public education system that enables all students to achieve success in college, career, and civic life. Since its founding in 2008, Advance Illinois has become a nationally recognized thought leader in education policy and advocacy. To learn more, visit advanceillinois.org.