# Road to COVID Recovery ## Road to COVID Recovery Researchers from CEPR have partnered with colleagues at [CALDER](https://caldercenter.org/) at the [American Institutes for Research (AIR)](https://www.air.org/) and [NWEA](https://www.nwea.org/) to uncover the impact of the pandemic on learning loss and work with a coalition of districts across the country to help determine which COVID recovery interventions are working (or not working) and why. ![Trainees using bulletin board and post it notes](/sites/g/files/omnuum9881/files/styles/hwp_28_10__1920x685/public/cepr/files/design-workshop_t20_ne6w08.jpg?itok=x0vTDuE1) In the wake of instructional challenges faced since the start of the pandemic, districts across the country are currently making important decisions about which interventions and strategies to implement to aid with COVID recovery. Understanding which interventions work best for students, and how to best implement them, is critical as we collectively move forward. The research group aims to maximize the potential of this research to practically inform each district’s recovery efforts, as well as offer insights to the larger field. **For press inquiries, contact Sam Stockwell, Director of Communications, at [samuel\_stockwell@gse.harvard.edu](mailto:samuel_stockwell@gse.harvard.edu).** ## Research and Reports [### School's in for Summer: A Scalable and Effective Post-Pandemic Academic Intervention ](/resource/schools-summer-scalable-and-effective-post-pandemic-academic-intervention)Summer school consistently boosted students’ math achievement in 2022 and 2023 but had no impact on reading. The math gains were modest, equivalent to about 2 to 3 weeks of learning during the school year. ![first page of resource](/sites/g/files/omnuum9881/files/styles/hwp_scale_small/public/2026-03/Screenshot%202026-03-12%20202557.png?itok=xbLGPvSI) [### Research Brief: Summer School As a Learning Loss Recovery Strategy After COVID-19: Evidence from Summer 2022 ](/resource/research-brief-summer-school-learning-loss-recovery-strategy-after-covid-19-evidence)This brief finds that summer school helped boost math achievement after COVID-19 but had no impact on reading and, at current participation levels, is insufficient on its own to close pandemic learning gaps. ![front cover of this resource](/sites/g/files/omnuum9881/files/styles/hwp_scale_small/public/2025-12/Screenshot%202025-12-28%20201308.png?itok=DDQHwLKP) [### Summer School as an Academic Recovery Strategy After COVID-19: Evidence from Summer 2023 ](/resource/summer-school-academic-recovery-strategy-after-covid-19-evidence-summer-2023)This report examines the impact of 2023 summer programs on academic recovery. It finds modest but significant improvements in student math achievement and no significant improvements in reading. ![Summer School as an Academic Recovery Strategy After COVID-19: Evidence from Summer 2023](/sites/g/files/omnuum9881/files/styles/hwp_scale_small/public/2025-12/Screenshot%202025-12-12%20at%202.20.24%E2%80%AFPM.png?itok=4BYg1ymu) [### Impacts of Academic Recovery Interventions on Student Achievement in 2022-23 ](/resource/impacts-academic-recovery-interventions-student-achievement-2022-23)This paper finds that while a few interventions produced meaningful gains in math and reading after COVID-19 learning losses, most recovery efforts were insufficient to drive district-wide academic recovery. ![Impacts of Academic Recovery Interventions](/sites/g/files/omnuum9881/files/styles/hwp_scale_small/public/2025-05/Screenshot%202025-05-22%20at%202.25.58%20PM.png?itok=5yBkG42S) [### Summer School As a Learning Loss Recovery Strategy After COVID-19: Evidence from Summer 2022 ](/resource/summer-school-learning-loss-recovery-strategy-after-covid-19-evidence-summer-2022)This study finds that summer school produced modest math gains but no reading improvements after COVID-19, indicating that summer programming alone is insufficient to fully address pandemic-related learning loss. ![Summer School as a Learning Loss Recovery Strategy](/sites/g/files/omnuum9881/files/styles/hwp_scale_small/public/2025-05/Screenshot%202025-05-22%20at%202.58.03%20PM.png?itok=9w0NrrSi) [### The Challenges of Implementing Academic COVID Recovery Interventions ](/resource/challenges-implementing-academic-covid-recovery-interventions)This report finds that while districts launched many COVID-19 academic recovery efforts, implementation barriers sharply limited their reach and impact, leaving most students far from full academic recovery. ![The Challenges of Implementing Academic COVID Recovery Interventions](/sites/g/files/omnuum9881/files/styles/hwp_scale_small/public/2025-05/Screenshot%202025-05-22%20at%202.56.26%20PM.png?itok=szLBZtwV) [### What Do Changes in State Test Scores Imply for Later Life Outcomes? ](/resource/what-do-changes-state-test-scores-imply-later-life-outcomes-0)This brief shows that sustaining effective distance education at LACCD depends on balancing flexible course options with stronger institutional supports for faculty capacity, connection, and well-being. ![front cover of this resource](/sites/g/files/omnuum9881/files/styles/hwp_scale_small/public/2025-12/Screenshot%202025-12-28%20195407.png?itok=P45Ugufl) ## CEPR's COVID Recovery Research In The News [### What's behind the decade-long 'learning recession' for American students ](/news/2026/05/whats-behind-decade-long-learning-recession-american-students) May 22, 2026 [### Tom Kane has tracked years of U.S. test scores. Here’s what he’s learned — and still can’t explain. ](/news/2026/05/tom-kane-has-tracked-years-us-test-scores-heres-what-hes-learned-and-still-cant) May 21, 2026 [### Look Up Your School District’s Test Scores ](/news/2026/05/look-your-school-districts-test-scores) May 13, 2026 [ View More arrow\_circle\_right ](https://prod-cepr.drupalsites.harvard.edu/news?f%5B0%5D=hwp_c_focusareas1%3A177251) ## Meet the Road to Recovery Team [### Daniel Dewey ](/people/daniel-dewey) [daniel\_dewey@gse.harvard.edu](mailto:daniel_dewey@gse.harvard.edu)Senior Research Analyst Daniel Dewey is a Senior Research Analyst for the Road to Recovery project and Education Recovery Scorecard at CEPR. He previously worked for Welch Consulting conducting analyses for employment discrimination audits and cases. He holds an M.A. in Applied... ![Daniel Dewey](/sites/g/files/omnuum9881/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/cepr/files/daniel_dewey_1.jpg?itok=vMh2C5H4) [### Micaela Keating Sharp ](/people/micaela-keating)Research Analyst II Micaela Keating Sharp is a Research Analyst II on the Arkansas High-Impact Tutoring and States Leading States projects. She previously worked on the Road to COVID Recovery and Proving Ground Projects at CEPR. Prior to joining the team, Micaela was an... ![Micaela Keating](/sites/g/files/omnuum9881/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/cepr/files/screenshot_2024-07-26_at_9.36.00_am.png?itok=oaLl8YB6) [### Atsuko Muroga ](/people/atsuko-muroga) Atsuko Muroga is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Center for Education Policy Research (CEPR). Her research focuses on understanding the effectiveness and costs of programs and policies designed to improve the well-being and educational equity of K–12... ![Atsuko](/sites/g/files/omnuum9881/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2026-05/atsuko.png?itok=Cr6iNL3r) See also:- [ Project ](/page-type/project) - [ Road to Recovery Project ](/projects/road-recovery-project) - [ Current ](/project-status/current)