A Look at the True Impact of COVID on Learning Benchmarks

 

The nationwide STAR assessment, testing children of grades 1-8, recently released a report with its findings. According to Renaissance, the test shows a mild drop in reading and literacy, but a significant 7 percentage point drop in meeting math benchmarks. The test results estimate in weeks needed to catch up and meet the grade benchmarks expected at the start of a new school year.

Marketscale Radio brings on guest Kevin Hogan, host of “Remote Possibilities,” to analyze the report. With host Daniel Litwin, the two consider the next steps for educators heading into a Spring semester. As the pandemic continues to spread, can remote and hybrid learning solutions help meet the gaps in meeting education benchmarks?

KEY POINTS:

  • STAR assessment reveals COVID disrupted learning enough to put students behind benchmarks.
  • Math achievement suffered more than reading performance.
  • Five million students make up the results of nationwide STAR test results, showing collective performance loss.

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

data center infrastructure
AI Is Forcing a Rethink of Data Center Infrastructure at Every Level
December 29, 2025

The data center industry is being redefined by AI’s demand for faster, denser, and more scalable infrastructure. According to McKinsey, average rack power densities have more than doubled in just two years. It went from approximately 8 kW to 17 kW, and is expected to hit 30 kW by 2027. Global data center power demand is projected…

Read More
Emergency department
How Predictive AI Is Helping Hospitals Anticipate Admissions and Optimize Emergency Department Throughput
December 24, 2025

Emergency departments across the U.S. are under unprecedented strain, with overcrowding, staffing shortages, and inpatient bed constraints converging into a throughput crisis. The American Hospital Association reports that hospital capacity and workforce growth have lagged, intensifying delays from arrival to disposition. At the same time, advances in artificial intelligence are moving from experimental to operational—raising…

Read More
Mission
Why Is the Mission of Benchmark So Important
December 23, 2025

As pharmaceutical innovation accelerates, the margin for error narrows, making quality assurance not just a regulatory necessity but a public good. Benchmark’s mission sits at the intersection of progress and protection—helping manufacturers stay aligned with FDA standards so life-saving therapies reach patients faster and safer. By keeping cleanrooms compliant and companies out of trouble, Benchmark…

Read More
Benchmark
What Is It Like for You to Be Part of the Benchmark Products Teams Now
December 23, 2025

Being part of the Benchmark Products team today means working at the intersection of precision manufacturing and deeply human collaboration, especially in the high-stakes world of cleanroom and sterility assurance solutions. As the organization grows, employees describe a culture that still feels familial—one where clear communication, personal accountability, and genuine care for customers drive…

Read More