Pandemic exposes growing gaps in education system

On March 16, 2020, the Prichard Committee hosted what became the first of dozens of virtual conversations on the COVID-19 pandemic. We gathered education leaders from the early childhood, K-12 and postsecondary sectors to triage the impact of the closures of child care facilities, schools and universities. Kentuckians were scared and began looking for answers on social media and through our blog posts.

Throughout 2020 and into 2021, the Prichard Committee staff and our intergenerational team of volunteers have been surveying parents, educators and students about the impact of COVID. We’ve also been keeping our eyes open for innovations during this challenging time, that we think can be game-changers for students long into the future.

The Prichard Committee continues to study, inform and mobilize around all issues related to education in the Commonwealth, and we remain committed to moving the Commonwealth toward a Big Bold Future despite the pandemic and other challenges that surround us.

Communities must unite to plan for education recovery

Kentucky has received and is estimated to receive considerable support for education from various federal stimulus packages that Congress has enacted since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020.  These investments – at their best – provide an opportunity not just to return to pre-pandemic status quo, but rather to envision a better system of supports for students, families and educators into the future.

Through the 5 lessons we’ve learned during the pandemic, we now know specific areas that need to be prioritized for funding. We’re now asking Prichard Committee & Groundswell members throughout the state to work locally to create plans for how to best use the COVID relief funds to build a Big Bold Future for education in Kentucky.

These guiding coalitions, comprised of students, parents, communities, and business leaders could work together to build paths that are responsive to community needs. By asking these specific questions, we believe these coalitions could change the Commonwealth, for the better, for decades to come.

Tools for Kentucky communities to help move forward from the pandemic for a Big Bold Future.

The Prichard Committee has conducted surveys since the onset of the pandemic about the impact on students, educators and families. Click the links below for access to this work.