Center for the Transformation of Schools

The abrupt closure of public schools in March 2020 forced a radical shift to remote learning for close to 6 million California students. The shift to digital platforms between the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 school years highlighted and exacerbated pre-existing educational inequities. In CA, there were an estimated 1.8 million students, most of which were Latinx and Black, without digital access at home (Alliance for Excellent Education, 2020). The pandemic’s impact extended beyond academics, affecting students’ social-emotional learning and mental health. Teachers had to navigate unfamiliar computer platforms and faced difficulties with student engagement. As the pandemic unfolded, the threat of COVID-19 compounded uncertainties. This brief intends to elevate new research by suggesting recommendations for strategic action based on the perspectives of educators across CA who participated in interviews and online surveys. Our hope in sharing this brief widely is that we’ll be able to turn the lights on, to see clearly the deep and profound effects of the virus on our education landscape. Learn more on the CTS website.