Addressing "Learning Gaps"

Learning loss is a common and traditional term, but how can learning be lost if it were never found? That is the situation with remote learning during the pandemic. Teachers worked hard and students work hard, but some standards may not have yet been met, hence the term from the DOE, unfinished learning. Many schools are leveraging summer school as a solution to address this issue, but what are other solutions that schools are implementing? In our podcast, we talk to  Jeff McCoy and Darcy Krause about the plans their districts are making to close learning gaps.  Jeff and Darcy discuss specific ideas and the action steps their districts are taking to close learning gaps.  Jeff McCoy is the Associate Superintendent of Academics for Greenville County Schools. Greenville County Schools is the largest district in South Carolina and the 44th largest in the nation with 77,000 students in attendance. Jeff oversees the Offices of Academic Support, Academic Innovation and Technology, Accountability and Quality Assurance, Career and Technical Education and Early Childhood Education. Prior to assuming the Associate Superintendent role, Jeff held various district leadership positions and is proud to be starting his 21st year with Greenville County Schools. Jeff is active both state and nationally on multiple advisory boards including the National K12 Congress Advisory Board, National School Transformation Conference Advisory Board, National Chief Academic Officers Working Group and serves on the Board of Directors for the Upstate Children’s Museum. He and three of his colleagues recently published a series Blueprints on Personalized Learning, Cybersecurity and The Marriage of Information Technology and Academics. He presents frequently around the country on the topics of personalized learning, innovation in education and systems level change and support.   Darcy Kraus I has served  of the educational community for 35 years as a elementary and secondary teacher, learning coach, consulting teacher, principal, and now as the Elementary Director of Lawrence Public Schools. Darcy is known for her positive support of all educators and ability to bring out the best in educational leaders.  Darcy is currently leading the district’s summer school program in addition to her many other duties  as a district director..