Abstract
Project Mentor(s): Amanda Obery, PhD; Wendie Castillo
The COVID-19 pandemic profoundly disrupted education, leaving lasting effects on elementary students’ academic development, particularly in literacy and reading comprehension. This research investigated the long-term educational impacts of the pandemic by drawing on qualitative insights from interviews with five educators across a range of specializations, including general education, interventional support, and multilingual learning. Using inductive thematic analysis and descriptive coding, the study identified key themes that reflected shifts in academic achievement, student behavior, attendance, and school priorities post-pandemic. These findings illuminate critical areas where students require support and outline the structural, instructional, and relational strategies educators use to bridge learning gaps. The conclusions contribute to broader conversations around educational policy and offer insight into how schools can more effectively support recovery and reimagine academic success in a post-pandemic era.
SOURCE Form ID
22
Recommended Citation
Ellsworth, Scottie
(2025)
"COVID's Impact on Our Youngest Learners,"
Journal of the Symposium of University Research and Creative Expression: Vol. 1, Article 25.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/jsource/vol1/iss1/25