The Biden Administration passed an executive order at the start of 2021 to support the reopening and continued operation of in-person schooling. The order instructed the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services to assist states, elementary schools, and secondary schools in safely reopening for in-person education to children across the country.
In March, President Joe Biden passed the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, allocating $170 billion to K-12 schools and colleges. The plan helped fund initiatives for schools to hire more staff, buy personal protective equipment for teachers, staff, and students, add ventilation systems in schools, reduce class sizes and implement social distancing.
Although it is too early to know the pandemic’s full impact on student learning, data from the Education Department and from the Household Pulse survey gives insight into student learning experiences over the last year.
