October 29, 2021
To say Generation Z has experienced one of the more interesting educational journeys of any American generation is likely an understatement. From a global pandemic to growing attacks on what is being taught in the classrooms to the most diverse generation of students that our nation has ever seen.
During the ongoing pandemic, Gen Z students have had to navigate an educational experience that saw us switching to full-time distance learning, addressing barriers caused by a lack of necessary technology, and living in a world where most of us lost contact with our social circles and natural peer support groups.
Black and Latino students, already lagging behind in student success and outcomes before COVID-19, saw our peers struggling to keep up with our grade level studies.
This pandemic has also introduced us to a discussion about learning loss. Black and Latino students, already lagging behind in student success and outcomes before COVID-19, saw our peers struggling to keep up with our grade level studies.
A report by McKinsey demonstrated that “learning loss was especially acute in schools that predominantly serve students of color, where scores were 59% of the historical average in math and 77% in reading”.
Much of the national, state and local discussions by educators and policymakers have been focused on the legitimate concern over learning loss. And if that wasn’t enough for Gen Z students, coming back to in-person learning has been met with adults fighting over mask mandates and warped understanding of critical race theory.