Research brief
Academically diverse classrooms, deeper needs: What teachers face after the pandemic
April 2026
By: Megan Kuhfeld, Emily Morton, Karyn Lewis, Scott J. Peters
Description
This research brief examines the academic diversity of post-COVID classrooms, including the composition and spread of academic achievement levels. Key findings highlight the challenges facing educators as more students are off-track and further behind grade-level proficiency.
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This is the technical appendix to the research, āAcademically diverse classrooms, deeper needs,ā research brief examines the academic diversity of post-COVID classrooms, including the composition and spread of academic achievement levels. Key findings highlight the challenges facing educators as more students are off-track and further behind grade-level proficiency.
By: Megan Kuhfeld, Emily Morton, Karyn Lewis, Scott J. Peters
Products: MAP Growth
Topics: COVID-19 & schools, Empowering educators, Growth, Informing instruction
A Practical Guide for Considering and Interpreting Test Score Differences Among Student SubgroupsĀ
This guide offers recommendations for how to understand what differences may exist when looking at data for student groups, and gives leaders some structure for how they might consider and interpret those differences.
Products: MAP Growth
Topics: Empowering educators, Equity, Growth, Guidance
Kindergarten redshirting: What families should know
This is a family facing fact sheet about the data on the practice of delaying kindergarten, known as redshirting. Schools can use this fact sheet with families considering redshirting or who just want more information.
By: Megan Kuhfeld, Sofia Postell
Products: MAP Growth
Topics: Early learning, Growth
Technical Appendix: Should kindergartners be redshirted? Costs likely outweigh academic benefits
This is the technical appendix for the research brief titled, āShould kindergartners be redshirted?ā which examines the data on holding back five-year-olds from starting kindergarten – a practice known as redshirting.
By: Megan Kuhfeld, Sofia Postell
Products: MAP Growth
Topics: Growth, Early learning
Should kindergartners be redshirted? Costs likely outweigh academic benefits
This research brief examines the data on holding back five-year-olds from starting kindergarten – a practice known as redshirting. Using national data from over three million kindergartners from NWEAās MAP Growth K-2 assessment, this study explores redshirting trends between fall 2017 and 2025. It also follows a kindergarten cohort (2021-22) through the third grade, examining whether there were academic advantages for redshirted students.
By: Megan Kuhfeld, Sofia Postell
Products: MAP Growth
Topics: Early learning, Growth
Trend Snapshots: COVID-19 recovery in Kā2, positive recovery trends
This short research brief highlights trends seen in the latest data released in the NWEA Map Growth National Dashboard. In this latest edition of Trend Snapshots, key findings focus on trends in K-2 academic recovery following the COVID pandemic.
By: Karyn Lewis, Megan Kuhfeld
Products: MAP Growth
Topics: COVID-19 & schools, Growth, Seasonal learning patterns & summer loss
Tech Appendix for āFrom loss to recovery: Diverging paths and uneven gains across schoolsā
This is the technical appendix to the research brief titled, āFrom loss to recovery: Diverging paths and uneven gains across schools,ā which examines two components of school recovery post-COVID pandemic to better understand recovery patterns.
By: Emily Morton, Megan Kuhfeld, Ayesha K. Hashim, Scott J. Peters
Topics: COVID-19 & schools, Growth, High-growth schools & practices, Seasonal learning patterns & summer loss