Some educational impacts of coronavirus

Readiness for distance learning

High schools throughout the US are closed or are contemplating closing.  In general, public high schools are not equipped with the hardware capacity to support an entire student body connecting to resources for distance learning.  Public high schools do not have learning management system software, which would enable them to create online class content and examinations.  The staff usually do not have the training to use anything more complicated than recording lectures and posting homework assignments. 

Private high schools are typically better equipped, but have similar issues.  Many of the private schools close for two weeks in March, and you should expect that they may not be open when students return.  This is an approach that many colleges are following.

During the closing

One thing that seems certain is that exams will not be administered online because there is nothing to prevent students from getting together (physically or virtually) to work on the exams. 

Parents should encourage students to do as much as they can with the school’s distance learning tools.  When they return to school they should expect to be tested on that material.

Standardized testing

It has always been up to the schools hosting the SAT or ACT to decide whether a test will take place.  Usually this is due to weather conditions.  Individual schools will operate the same way with coronavirus.  When they decide not to host a test, high schools notify SAT or ACT so that closings will be posted on the respective web sites (there are reports that these postings are not happening promptly).  Tests that are cancelled are typically offered again later, but if the school closing is prolonged that might not be the case.  If you are registered for one of the March SATs you should check on these frequently.  April ACTs could be impacted as well.

After the closing

Teachers will not have enough time to cover the material missed during the closing and also cover all the material needed before the end of the school year.  This means administering tests to students who are not fully prepared to take them.  If the closed period is prolonged, expect the school to cancel spring breaks, or extend graduation using snow days that were not taken, or cancel internship programs, etc.