Effects of School Plans: Part 1 (Elementary, Middle and High School)

At NMBL Strategies we work with nonprofits and groups going through crisis/change management on a regular basis. One of those groups facing one of the biggest changes in its history is schooling. So we thought as we all prepare to send our children back to school we should take a look at how different educational institutions are handling the return.

As fall draws near, parents’ minds are focused on whether their children will return to school for in-person instruction. For some—with access to technology, well-equipped teachers, and flexible work schedules—keeping kids at home is not significantly burdensome. For others, having children at home all day creates significant challenges in order to balance work schedules and serve as de facto teachers. Serious questions about the coming school year still remain: what is best for the education of children? what kind of effects will change in education have? The goal of sending children to school is to give them the best education possible, but obviously, safety can be a barrier to that. In the event that the education system moves to fully online courses this fall, there will likely be some side effects on students, families, and the education system.

In elementary, middle, and high school, there is a debate continuing concerning the quality and access to education if it is strictly virtual. Some teachers are inexperienced with virtual learning while others are quite skilled. Additionally, the focus and ability of young students to learn online varies. Gaps in students’ foundational skills could seriously affect their future academic success. If students spend a semester or even full-year online unable to effectively learn certain skills and many are rubber-stamped into the next grade without a proper mastery of grammar, mathematical basics, or reading skills, students could enter next year facing classes above their skill level at no fault of their own. It is essential that the focus of this school year not simply be getting students through in any way possible, but ensuring that they learn effectively and are truly prepared for the next grade.
Schools, school districts, and government officials must also recognize the geographic, social, and financial diversity of students and schools. It is highly unlikely that a single solution will fit the educational needs of all students. In the United States in urban and suburban areas, internet access is generally available through several corporations and technology is accessible. Additionally, students are focused in a small area, easily reached by faculty if students need materials or other help. The smaller geographic area also increases the likelihood of students crowding and interacting with non-school related individuals, compromising isolation. Rural school districts face a markedly different reality in which many students do not have strong internet access and internet access is not provided save for an exorbitant price tag. Students are all spread miles apart with many requiring printed material as well as nutritional assistance through SNAP. Very few states, if any, can simply send all students to virtual programs without leaving some populations behind. 

Depending on the age of students and their experience with schooling, the online process will fail to meet expectations or build new ones about how education should operate in the future. This could be positive or negative but will surely affect education in the future due to student expectations. Although students are often the focus, it is important to remember that many teachers may not have wifi strength capable of performing virtual school or the space to work from home effectively. While there is no consensus on what should happen with schooling this fall, it is clear that a blanket solution does not consider the different challenges facing families, geographic regions, and school districts and will likely leave students behind. 

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