USAID Global Reading Network (GRN) – Global problems that require local solutions: localized approaches to addressing pandemic learning loss

Group Submission Type: Formal Panel Session

Proposal

Educators around the world continue to consider big picture questions and concerning trends in foundational skills and basic education learning outcomes resulting from system disruptions such as natural disasters, the COVID pandemic, and beyond. Leaders and members of the USAID Global Reading Network (GRN) have organized this panel to discuss global, regional, and local efforts to address the current unprecedented levels of learning loss and to prepare for future challenges together. Presenters represent various profiles from among GRN’s 7000+ individual members, and papers demonstrate that engaging and examining successes and challenges in the context of an open community of practice provides opportunity to influence and add nuance to high-level policy and agenda setting as well as efforts to localize international development.

Toward the GRN’s overarching goal of supporting quality learning outcomes across the continuum of basic education (including pre-primary through primary levels and youth), each paper discusses an aspect of bringing quality education to the most marginalized learners and highlights one or more of the GRN’s annual priorities. This panel responds to all sub-questions within Sub-Theme III: School Systems and Educators to Improve Learning and Teaching in Formal or Informal settings, with particular attention to the question “How can school systems (teachers, school directors, school administrators, parents, students, board members and elected officials) be better prepared to adapt to and to combat disruptions such as natural disasters and the COVID pandemic? Under such circumstances, how can they better support and contribute meaningfully to education for all?”

Sub Unit

• Global Literacy SIG

Chair

• Natalie Brackett, Education Development Center (Edc)

Individual Presentations

• USAID Foundational Skills Learning Agenda and the GRN - Laura Conrad, DDI Center for Education, United States Agency for International Development (USAID)

• Learning networks in action: how can we catalyze network connections to support local solutions? - Corrie Blankenbeckler, Education Development Center (EDC)

• Developing a community of practice to address learning loss – lessons and future opportunities - Tim Murray; Natalie Brackett, Education Development Center (Edc)