As states, schools, and districts finish the 2020-21 school year, they are taking stock of what their students have learned and pinpointing ways to meet essential benchmarks as they head into 2021-22. Initiatives that strengthen teaching and learning and increase retention of high-quality teachers are the most effective way to accelerate learning recovery and narrow achievement gaps.

NIET's resources, downloadable below, are designed to help states and districts address learning recovery. They include:

• A Summer Learning Planning Guide to assist education leaders in thinking through, planning for, and making the decisions that will ensure opportunities are successful for students, families, and teachers. The planning guide begins with an overview of recent research findings that highlight effective small group and summer learning practices. It then provides space for leaders to focus on some of the most important questions, decisions, and next steps to implement high-quality summer learning opportunities.
  
  
• The five-part Learning Recovery Training Series that will strengthen teaching and learning through using and analyzing data, and communication; maximizing structures for collaboration; planning for accelerated learning options and individualized learning; strengthening content-specific strategies in math and English language arts; and setting up effective summer learning opportunities.
   
• Guidance for states and districts for how to use ESSER (Elementary and Secondary Emergency School Relief) funds, as well as other federal and state funds, to support and retain effective teachers and accelerate student learning. 
  
  
• Tangible steps to analyze learning recovery in schools and districts, determine strategies that work to accelerate learning, identify key personnel to build buy-in and implement the plan, and create a budget.

Visit NIET's Learning Acceleration Resources page to view and download tools and resources.