COVID learning loss

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Data released from the state of tennessee projects that some students haven't been learning as well during the coronavirus pandemic.

We take a look at what that means locally... in tonight's top local story.

It has been far from a normal year.

Hamilton county schools have been working the challenge of minimizing the spread of covid and holding classes virtually and in-person.

As it's not so normal circumstances, hamilton county education association president jeanette omarkhail tells me that it's accurate to say that the district will probably see some kind of deficiency in learning.

Hamilton county education association president jeanette omarkhail: "you can't expect there not to be just with the fact that not being in-person is very different."

Hamilton county education association president jeanette omarkhail: "we did shift to the virtual.

We were providing it, but not every student were able to get on, but we've done a lot to change that."

Data and information compiled by the state projects decreases in learning among students starting the fall semester statewide.

Tennessee education commissioner penny schwinn: "what we would traditionally refer to as the summer slide is compounded by the fact that we had three additional months of school closures and many of our students were learning remotely, again that is why it is so important for children to get back into the classrooms where the strongest learning can take place."

Hamilton county education association president jeanette omarkhail: "it is a projection it is what they are thinking.

It's something they got from a think-tank, but we have no way of knowing anything until our benchmark testing is done."

While there might possibly be a learning loss, there are some students who might be actually benefiting from virtual learning.

Hamilton county education association president jeanette omarkhail: "there are some students who thrive in this.

There are some students who are very self- motivated or they have strong family support one form or another, whether it's grandmother, mother, father, whoever and they are able to learn that way without the other distractions.

We did see that in the spring, and i think that, that is one of the reasons they decided to go with this model."

This year the district offered multiple virtual learning options for students.

Hamilton county education association president jeanette omarkhail: "for some, they will discover, no this is not the best way for my child to learn, but sometimes you don't know until you try."

Omarkhail says that educators and the district are looking at every avenue and while it has been an overwhelming time, if students are behind, they will do everything they can to bring them to where they