Scott bill calls for more study on impact of pandemic for America’s students

Bipartisan legislation cosponsored on March 17 by U.S. Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) would authorize the U.S. Department of Education to coordinate with other federal agencies on expanding an existing COVID-19 study to better assess the impact of the pandemic on student outcomes and well-being. 

“From learning loss to mental health crises, the damaging effects of school closures on our nation’s children are already undeniable,” Sen. Scott said. “If we want to move forward, we must examine the long-term repercussions for today’s youth, who will be tomorrow’s leaders. The success of our nation depends on it.”

Sen. Scott introduced the Assessing Children’s Academic Development and the Emotional and Mental Health Implications of COVID-19 (ACADEMIC) Act, S. 3862, with bill sponsor U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and fellow original cosponsors including U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA).

If enacted, the measure would call for a longitudinal educational study within two years of the bill’s enactment that analyzes the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated school closures, remote learning and other factors on student outcomes and well-being in grades pre-K through 12, according to the text of the bill.

Other factors measured under S. 3862 would include academic achievement, social-emotional well-being, and mental, behavioral and physical health, according to a one-page summary of the bill.

Additionally, the new study would assess a representative group of students, including residents of rural and urban localities, females and males, and students from different grades, races, ethnicities, and incomes; and examine the impacts on specific subgroups of students, such as low-income students, military-connected students, students experiencing homelessness, students in foster care, students in the juvenile justice system, students with disabilities, students who are English learners, and migratory students, the summary says.

The U.S. Education Secretary also would be required to release a preliminary summary of findings to the public no later than one year after the end of the data collection, according to the summary of the bill, which has been referred to the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee for consideration.