A recent study from the University of Illinois System reveals that many Illinois students are still struggling to recover from the learning disruptions caused by pandemic school closures. Despite efforts to lessen the impact, the findings indicate that only a quarter of public-school students have returned to their pre-pandemic academic levels in English language arts, with even fewer achieving the same in math. This underscores the ongoing challenges in educational recovery.

Since the pandemic, Illinois has experienced a decline of nearly 60,000 students in statewide enrollment. Additionally, there has been a significant rise in chronic absenteeism, further complicating the learning loss being experienced in the school system. These troubling trends highlight the extensive impact of the pandemic on student attendance and engagement.

These challenges come as billions in federal relief funds, which have been critical for educational support, are set to expire this year. As these funds run dry, schools will need to seek alternative funding to maintain essential programs and continue addressing the learning gaps.