95: Deciphering "Learning Loss" w/ Akil Bello

What this episode covers

Today, we are joined by Akil Bello. Akil is a supplemental education and test preparation expert. He's launched two companies, developed test preparation programs, and trained hundreds of instructors. He was the founding partner and CEO of Bell Curves, a test prep company based on community partnerships, worked for The Princeton Review, and now is the Senior Director of Advocacy and Advancement at FairTest. Akil and I talk about the advent of "learning loss" after pandemic schooling, the way that testing companies are using this term to generate more tests and test prep software, what was lost in the pandemic, and what we can do as teachers to build back better. GUESTS Akil Bello, Senior Director of Advocacy and Advancement at Fairtest, founding partner and former CEO of Bell Curves, and contributor on test equitability, learning loss, and much more RESOURCES * How Test Publishers Are Poised To Profit From Pandemic "Learning Loss" by Akil Bello [https://www.forbes.com/sites/akilbello/2021/04/07/how-test-publishers-are-poised-to-profit-from-pandemic-learning-loss/] * Akil Bello's website [https://akilbello.com/] * FutureEd State Plan Tracking [https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1PSgwA2w9KkjnCgBMbTff8wO07FMeodrXlx4eSPMCMZA/edit?usp=sharing] * Introducing "Operation Reverse the Loss" (IES) [https://ies.ed.gov/director/remarks/10-26-2020.asp] * Oh What a Tangled Web We Weave: How the Testing Industry Manufactured the "Learning Loss" Narrative (HRP) [https://writing.humanrestorationproject.org/oh-what-a-tangled-web-we-weave-how-the-testing-industry-manufactured-the-learning-loss-narrative/]