Officials say learning loss due to pandemic greater in Kalamazoo than in many other school districts

KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – Kalamazoo Public Schools administrators have their first look at the learning loss their students may have suffered because of the pandemic. They say it verifies what they anticipated, that face to face classrooms work better than virtual learning.

The preliminary numbers come from state and national testing programs.

Superintendent Dr. Rita Raichoudhuri says that compared with all other state districts, learning loss was worse than predicted across most local subgroups.

She says while the testing showed losses for many students, those with Individual Educational Plans and English language learners…did better than expected.

The data will be useful as a benchmark as they pursue their COVID-19 recovery plans.

Dr. Raichoudhuri says they will get more test results back at the end of the school year.