Impact of the Pandemic on Reading Comprehension From First to Fourth Grade

• In Event: Thursday Roundtable Session 4:20 pm
  In Roundtable Session: Unraveling the Language-Learning Continuum With Young Readers and Writers (Table 25)

Abstract

This study examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Chilean students' reading comprehension. We compare the average performance of 1,588 students in 1st to 4th grade, attending the same vulnerable schools, between 2018 and 2022. Employing a school panel linear regression and multilevel modeling, we control for unobserved school characteristics. Results show a significant decline in reading comprehension for 2nd-grade students in 2022, while other grades remained unaffected. Furthermore, gender-based analysis reveals a significant decline for female 2nd-grade students. Additionally, we discuss findings from a 2022 survey of parents and caregivers, indicating that students from households with higher stress levels, reduced exercise, and less reading during the pandemic experienced a pronounced decline in Lexile scores.

Authors

• Carolina Melo-Hurtado, Universidad de los Andes

• Dana Yael Fuentes