A collective of national education organizations, researchers, and technology experts are partnering to create the first nationwide database that systematically maps schools’ responses to the COVID-19 pandemic across the United States. This will allow school leaders to examine current conditions in their own schools, districts, and neighboring communities – and in other cities and states – to adapt and make data-driven teaching and learning decisions.
The partners consist of: AASA, The School Superintendents Association; the National Association of Secondary School Principals; the National Association of Elementary School Principals; Brown University Professor of Economics Emily Oster; and Qualtrics, the experience management company.
School leaders are still navigating through uncertainty as the 2020-21 school year has begun – whether in-person or online. The ambiguity is largely due to several factors: the number of COVID-19 cases, disparate response efforts, how these impact school planning, and how leaders should continue monitoring and responding to students, staff, parents, and the broader community. District leaders and school principals still have important questions to answer: How many cases are in their community? How many students and staff have contracted COVID-19? How are schools in their surrounding community reopening? What resources are available?
This collaboration aims to close these gaps with a living hub of information that helps district and school leaders understand where COVID-19 cases are surging, how the spread of cases is impacting schools, what it means for opening and staying open, and how they can pivot and respond quickly. Education leaders will be able to understand and take action based on data and trends across the country, creating a blueprint and action plan as the academic year progresses.
Data collection for the database will start early September; the dashboard will be live and available for public use within one week of data collection. Data will also be analyzed with Qualtrics to allow education leaders and researchers to uncover trends and relationships, such as which early indicators could potentially predict an outbreak.
To participate or learn more about this collaboration, complete the form here.