Vulnerable populations already considered at-risk prior to the onset of the coronavirus pandemic are now stretched even thinner by job losses, illness, lack of access to affordable healthcare, disruptions to the academic year and lack of access to resources that enable home learning.
On the other hand, pandemic school shutdowns could have negative impacts on vulnerable populations. Administrators and others have warned against funneling already-marginalized students into remediation programs once schools reopen their doors. But the likely possibility remains that Black and Hispanic students will return to school in the fall further behind than their White peers and will require academic intervention of some sorts.
