Education in the United States, as across the globe, changed dramatically when Covid forced schools across the country to close in spring 2020 and over 50 million students were asked to learn remotely.

As a national nonprofit that elevates student voice on critical issues in education, YouthTruth wanted to know: how have students perceived their learning experiences, social-emotional development, and well-being during spring 2020 school closures?

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    Finding 1

    Only half of students said their teachers give them assignments that really help them learn and 39 percent said they learn a lot every day.

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    Finding 2

    Distractions at home and feeling depressed, stressed, or anxious were the most frequently cited obstacles to virtual learning. Black and Latinx students faced more obstacles than White and Asian students.

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    Finding 3

    Relationships with teachers were a bright spot, while sense of belonging suffered.

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    Finding 4

    Females and students who identify in another way rated their health and well-being less positively than males.

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    Finding 5

    One in five high school seniors’ postsecondary plans have changed.