Distance Learning Equity Dashboard - Five Ways to Support Teachers as Schools Reopen - Policy Brief July 2021

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Angel

Distance Learning Equity Dashboard (DLED) policy brief analyzes how southern U.S. districts supported vulnerable students and prepared teachers and families for distance learning amid COVID-19. It summarizes evidence from 48 districts across 20 states using 20 indicators tied to academic and social-emotional supports, technology access, and wraparound services. Findings show reopening plans improved student supports yet varied in attention to teacher needs, including input in decisions, collaboration, professional learning, and coaching.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages18

Reading Time45 min

AccessFree to download

Engage Teachers in Reopening Decisions

Teacher input and turnover risk

Evidence from states and districts

Policy Brief —July 2021 DISTANCE LEARNING EQUITY DASHBOARD Five Ways to Support Teachers as Schools Reopen A U T H O R S : T I T I L A Y O T I N U B U A L I • S U J I T H C H E R U K U M I L L I • M I R E L H E R R E R A THE SCHOOL REOPENING DEBATE has reached an inflection point as districts weigh both the safety and learning implications of returning to in-person education this fall. Challenges with transitioning to distance learning during the spring made it clear that teachers, parents and students needed more and different resources to make supportive, developmentally-appropriate distance learning accessible for 404.523.0001 [info@southerneducation.org](info@southerneducation.org) Follow SEF @SouthernEdFound [SouthernEducation.org](SouthernEducation.org) 1 all students during this crisis. Much of the debate has been focused on whether learning should take place at home orin school, with less of a focus on what is needed to support teaching and learning, especially in schools that have longstanding inequities. The Southern Education Foundation (SEF) first sought to understand how districts were meeting the needs of their most vulnerable students and published the issue brief, Distance Learning During COVID-19: 7 Equity Considerations for Schools and Districts. We then looked at 48 districts across 20 states and developed the Distance Learning Equity Dashboard (DLED) to track, across 20 indicators, how districts were providing academic, social-emotional and other wraparound support to students, as well as how they were supporting teachers and parents in navigating the transition to distance learning. The districts reflect the DASHBOARD demographics of southern school districts. Nearly 44 percent of the students enrolled in the chosen districts are Black, while 21 percent are Hispanic or Latinx and 3 percent are Asian. In comparison, students in the South’s public schools are nearly 23 percent Black, 27 percent Hispanic or Latinx, and 4 percent Asian. On average, 67 percent of students in thereviewed districts receive Free or Reduced Price Lunch (FRPL), compared with 57.1 percent of public school students in the South.1 Thirteen percent of students in these districts have Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), and 10 percent are English Language Learners (ELLs) . We found that districts were taking thoughtful steps toward expanding distance learning supports; however, reopening plans varied in their attention to teachers’ needs. In the process of developing the DLED and reviewing state and district reopening plans, we found that districts were taking thoughtful steps towards expanding internet and WiFi access, making technology a priority, providing social and emotional learning and mental health support for students, and addressing summer learning loss. However, reopening plans varied in their attention to teachers’ needs. Avast and varied body of research has shown that teacher quality is a critical determinant of student achievement. 2 404.523.0001 [info@southerneducation.org](info@southerneducation.org) Follow SEF @SouthernEdFound [SouthernEducation.org](SouthernEducation.org) 2 A vast and varied body of research has shown that teacher quality is a critical determinant of student achievement. Research has also shown that teachers become more effective when they have collegial, supportive work environments with opportunities for peer collaboration, professional learning, and meaningful coaching and mentorship.3 These factors also play a role in teachers’ decisions to stay in or leave the profession. We sought to understand the extent to which reopening plans addressed these factors and identified five key ways schools and districts can support teachers as they head into the next school year. This brief provides recommendations for state and local policymakers and administrators to consider to help teachers show up this school year as the healthy, skilled, well-resource

FAQs

What problem does the policy brief address?

It addresses the challenge of supporting effective, developmentally appropriate distance learning as districts move back toward in-person education, with particular attention to existing inequities.

How was the Distance Learning Equity Dashboard (DLED) developed?

SEF reviewed reopening plans and examined 48 districts across 20 states, using 20 indicators to track academic, social-emotional, and wraparound supports for students and how teachers and parents were being supported during the transition.

What does the brief say about teacher input during reopening decisions?

Research cited links limited teacher input to higher teacher turnover, and the brief reports that only about half of southern states intentionally incorporated teacher input into their plans.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Angel