A Nation Equipped: A K-12 Education System for Today and Tomorrow

This Solutions Brief examines the impact of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic on the US K-12 education system. It reviews the historic investment by Congress to restore schools and identifies promising practice examples that offer hope for student success. The country has entered a recovery phase especially as it relates to tackling unfinished learning during this time. But the learning crisis the nation faces provides a unique window to address not only the short-term challenge of pandemic learning loss but also the underlying long-term systemic problems that prevent an effective and vibrant US education system. Moreover, transformation of the education system faces increased urgency as advances in technology, including artificial intelligence, render some jobs obsolete. No single solutions exist, but this Brief proposes a series of recommendations that includes utilizing advances in technology and the extraordinary federal funding for K-12 education in states to enhance learning recovery and repair systemic issues to ensure all children can progress in educational attainment and are equipped to succeed as productive, engaged citizens.