This NWEA white paper explores the impacts of permanent school closures on communities. Findings suggest that despite challenges facing districts and the increased rhetoric around closures, most districts have continued to keep schools open; however, when schools were permanently closed, all communities are not affected equally: high poverty and high percentage Black students are more likely to close.

New research report looks at the effects of post-pandemic summer school on student achievement and district recovery, how program design and implementation aligned with recommended best practices, and how the scale and impact of summer school compared to other interventions, like tutoring.

NWEA’s MAP Growth National Dashboard provides timely trends and data on U.S. student academic achievement and growth for grades K-8. This free public tool supports district leaders, state and federal policymakers, and other education stakeholders in interpreting local data within a broader national and state context. It helps identify areas of strength, shine light on disparities, and ground policy conversations in evidence.

This short research brief highlights trends seen in the latest data released in the NWEA Map Growth National Dashboard. In this first edition of Trend Snapshots, key findings from Spring 2025 data highlight a modest, incremental recovery post COVID, but stalled progress in reading achievement.

This interactive tool provides information about academic achievement and growth for several categories of US schools that used MAP Growth assessments. These groups included secular and religious private schools (including Roman Catholic, Jewish, Lutheran, Islamic, Seventh-Day Adventist, and other religiously affiliated institutions) as well as public charter schools. Use this dashboard to examine patterns of growth and achievement across seasons, academic subjects, school types, and student demographics.

Responsive leadership practices used by school leaders during COVID-19 closures offer a blueprint for navigating future challenges.

Following COVID-19 school closures, educators have been helping students make academic gains. Family engagement can contribute to recovery.