Improving Educational Access and Engagement During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond

Amy Lewin and Kevin Roy

The research, based on interviews and focus groups with 52 Black and Latino parents, students, and educators in Montgomery County Public Schools during August 2020 came about "because of the concern that online learning was leaving many people behind - that they were disengaging from school,” said Dr. Lewin said. “When the pandemic hit, it became clear that the existing disparities were going to get worse, and we needed to do something.”

Interviews with families revealed that many kids were juggling not only the challenges of online school, but in taking care of siblings and helping their parents manage family needs.

The report highlights three main findings and provides concrete recommendations in each of these areas:

  • Adult support - students need more contact with adults at school, and there is a need for the schools to provide individualized and proactive outreach to students who are disengaged or at risk of disengagement
  • Communication - schools need to communicate with students and parents more frequently and in a way that is clear and accessible to all families, regardless of language or technological capacity
  • Resources - students need access to individual mental health resources within schools and communities, support for technology challenges, and improved access to meal distribution.

 

“What we heard from students and parents is not unique to Montgomery County,” said Dr. Roy. “It is reflective of the stressors of this moment we’re in. We hope these recommendations can be helpful to other counties across the state.”

Report: Securing Educational Access: Learning from the Lived Experiences of Black, Latino and Low-Income Families, During theCOVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond

See the full report (Download PDF)

Published on Thu, 04/24/2025 - 10:39