Educator Perceptions of Teaching and Learning in Fall 2021 - Insights from a Nationwide Survey and Focus Groups
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RESEARCH BRIEF
Educator Perceptions
of Teaching and
Learning in Fall 2021
Insights from a Nationwide
Survey and Focus Groups
Lexia Research & Analytics
research@lexialearning.com
Educator Perceptions of Teaching and Learning in Fall 2021
lexialearning.com 1Summary
This study explored educators’ expectations for teaching and learning in the 2021-22 academic year. In
June 2021, Lexia researchers administered a survey to Lexia and non-Lexia educators from 48 states and
facilitated focus groups with teachers from two states. We analyzed survey data from 1,012 teachers and
school leaders together with feedback from focus groups.
In the survey and focus groups, educators expressed concern about students’ fall 2021 preparedness
but were optimistic about their ability to support students. About 71% felt that students would not
be prepared for grade-level content or were unsure of students’ preparedness. Educators were
also concerned about finding enough time to balance remediation with grade-level instruction.
Approximately 92% of educators felt positive about returning to in-person instruction in fall 2021.
Key Findings
• Educators are overwhelmingly concerned about students’ preparedness for grade-level content
in 2021-22.
• Educators are extremely optimistic about their own preparedness to support students in the fall.
• Most educators felt supported by their districts and reported positive experiences learning how to
incorporate technology with instruction
Introduction have documented the wide variability in
approaches and readiness for remote learning.
The global coronavirus pandemic caused Recognizing the importance of collecting
schools across the United States to suddenly national data to understand how students are
close their buildings and explore alternative learning during the pandemic, the Institute of
instructional models for the 2019-20 and Education Sciences (IES) launched a large-
2020-21 academic years. Shortly after the scale effort in February 2021 to collect nationally
first round of school closures in March 2020, representative data on the impact of COVID-19.
the American Institutes for Research (AIR)
and RAND Corporation launched nationally Despite the wealth of descriptive information
representative surveys to collect data about about remote learning during the pandemic,
teaching and learning during the pandemic.1 relatively little is known about the preparedness
Results from both studies are continuing to be of students and teachers for a return to full-
released. The AIR survey collected data from time in-person instruction in fall 2021. Lexia
school districts and charter management Learning, one of the largest and most well-
organizations, and RAND collected data known literacy technology companies in the
from teachers. Findings from both surveys world, is committed to helping school districts
Educator Perceptions of Teaching and Learning in Fall 2021
lexialearning.com 2across the U.S. navigate successful reopening In this study, we analyze data for 1,012 survey
in fall 2021. As part of this commitment, Lexia respondents.2 Educators from 48 states are
launched a national survey of educators represented in our data and include classroom
to gather information about educators’ teachers (73%), school leaders (17%), and
perspectives on expectations for teaching support professionals (10%). Lexia educators
and learning in the 2021-22 academic year. are over-represented in the data, with 83% of
The objective of this study was to add to the respondents indicating that one or more Lexia
growing body of survey research on teaching products are used in their school. The majority
and learning during the pandemic and, more of survey respondents (70%) were experienced
importantly, collect data and report findings educators with ten or more years of teaching
to more effectively support school and district experience and 99% indicated that their schools
leader decision-making for fall 2021. provided some remote instruction during the
2020-21 school year. All seven focus group
participants used Lexia products and worked
in a district located in California or Illinois. The
Study Design focus group participants were elementary
Lexia researchers designed a survey to provide teachers with four to seven years of experience.
insight into two critical research questions
related to educators’ preparedness for
instruction in fall 2021:
Key Findings
1. Are students ready for instruction based on
To answer the first question related to
educators’ perceptions?
educators’ perceptions of students’ readiness
2. Are educators feeling prepared for teaching for instruction in fall 2021, we synthesized data
and learning? from the survey with data from the focus
groups. Most respondents (71%) felt that
We sent the survey to 17,582 school- and students would not be prepared for grade-level
district-level personnel, including both current content or were unsure of students’ degree of
users and non-users of Lexia programs. Lexia preparedness for the 2021-22 school year. Many
customers included educators working in educators (64%) anticipated that it would take
districts that purchased one or more Lexia students several months to catch up. Educators
products during the 2020-21 school year and were also not optimistic about students’ ability
were eligible to receive surveys. Lexia obtained to meet academic expectations next school
a supplementary list of educators from a year, with only 31% expressing confidence that
survey panel maintained by the MDR Education students would meet grade-level expectations
Marketing firm. The Lexia research team also in 2021-22. Participants in both focus groups
conducted two focus groups with seven expressed tension between the need to have
educators using Lexia products to capture high academic expectations for all students
qualitative data about readiness for fall 2021. and the difficulty of helping students meet
those expectations during the pandemic year.
Educator Perceptions of Teaching and Learning in Fall 2021
lexialearning.com 3When returning to in-person learning in fall
2021, the biggest challenge educators expect
to face is related to helping students learn.
My district is talking about
Educators were most concerned about accelerating learning, meaning
helping students overcome learning loss (41%)
we want to give students
and determining where students should be
performing relative to last year (23%). Focus grade-level content rather
group participants indicated that there will be than remediate for too long.
a tension between providing students access
I’m working a lot on not going
to grade-level content and supporting the
development of skills that may have lagged back and teaching all of last
during the pandemic. Open-ended responses year’s skills ... but, foundational
echoed these sentiments, while revealing that
a major concern was having adequate time for
phonics skills are not something
instruction in the fall. you can just pass and
accelerate through.
- Grade 2 Teacher
What is the biggest challenge you think you will face when it
comes to returning to in-person learning in the fall? (n=988)
Overcoming
learning loss 41%
Determining where students
should be performing
in light of the past year 23%
Integrating students back
into the classroom 20%
Overcoming stress
and fatigue 13%
Keeping yourself and
students safe 3%
Educator Perceptions of Teaching and Learning in Fall 2021
lexialearning.com 4To answer the second question related to their district to learn how to effectively use new tools
educators’ perceptions about their own to help students get back on track (61%).
preparedness for teaching and learning in fall
2021, we also analyzed results from the survey Educators were also optimistic about the
together with the focus group feedback. Despite technological resources they expect their districts to
the concerns that educators raised about student be providing in fall 2021. Most educators anticipated
learning, they were optimistic about their own that their districts will provide technology to support
preparedness for supporting students in the fall. learning (95%), that the technology would be
Educators overwhelmingly preferred in-person adequate to support instruction (92%), that it will
instruction (88%) compared to hybrid models (10%) be used effectively (92%), and that they will have
or fully remote learning (2%). The display below appropriate training in how to use the resources
illustrates that the vast majority of educators felt (82%). Open-ended survey responses and focus
positive about returning to in-person instruction in group participants also displayed the incredible
the fall (92%), felt professionally prepared for the optimism and resilience of educators. In the survey,
school year (87%), felt personally prepared for the educators indicated that they learned how to better
upcoming school year (80%), felt that they have use technology to differentiate for students, how
the training needed to overcome learning loss that to challenge students using multiple modes of
may have occurred over the last year (73%), and teaching, and that technology is a support not a
felt that they will have the time and support from replacement for teachers.
Educator Perceptions of Readiness for Fall 2021 Instruction
I feel positive about
returning to in-person 5 3 92
learning in the fall. (n=733)
I feel professionally prepared
for the upcoming academic 8 4 87
school year. (n=730)
I feel personally prepared for
the upcoming school year. 10 10 80
(n=730)
I have the training I need to overcome
learning loss that may have occurred 12 15 73
over the last year. (n=732)
I have the time and support
from my district to learn how to
18 21 61
effectively use new tools to help
students get back on track. (n=732)
80% 60% 40% 20% 0 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Neither agree Disagree Disagree Agree Agree
nor disagree a lot a little a little a lot
Educator Perceptions of Teaching and Learning in Fall 2021
lexialearning.com 5The results presented above illustrate
educators’ concerns about students’
preparedness for the 2021-22 academic year, Don’t make excuses—
see it as a partnership
while also highlighting their resilience and
readiness for in-person instruction in the fall.
Although our data include 1,012 educators with our students to
from 48 states, the data may not necessarily
be representative of educators across the
help them regain the
nation. These results may reflect an overly losses and celebrate
optimistic picture of educators’ perspectives
any success. Have a
on readiness for instruction in fall 2021 given the
wide variability in remote learning experiences systematic plan where
documented by other research studies as well explicit teaching is
as characteristics of the study sample. Despite
these limitations, these findings suggest that
taking place. Don’t
investing in tools that will help educators sacrifice a minute
address learning loss and accelerate learning
may be beneficial as schools and districts plan
where learning could
for a return to in-person learning in the 2021-22 be happening.
academic year.
- School Leader
Want to learn more?
Lexia Research & Analytics will publish a full
technical report in 2021 with additional details of
the study design, data, methods, and findings.
If you would like to receive notification of when
the technical report is available, please contact
research@lexialearning.com.
Footnotes
1
A detailed review of the survey research literature that informed our research study is provided in the
accompanying technical report.
2
Note that this number reflects the total number of educators that completed the survey. Sample sizes for individual
items may be smaller due to non-response, as illustrated in subsequent data displays.
Educator Perceptions of Teaching and Learning in Fall 2021
lexialearning.com 6Lexia is the structured literacy expert. For over 35 years, the company has
focused solely on literacy, and today provides a full spectrum of solutions
for both students and teachers. With robust offerings for differentiated
instruction, personalized learning, assessment, and professional learning,
Lexia helps more learners read, write, and speak with confidence.
lexialearning.com
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