Stop Saying ‘Learning Loss’: What Our Kids Really Need

“Learning loss” has become the go-to phrase to describe students post-pandemic—but what if we’re asking the wrong question?

Yes, some students are behind in math or reading. But they’ve also gained resilience, adaptability, and digital fluency. They’ve lived through history. They’ve faced grief and change and kept going.

Instead of framing kids as broken, let’s ask: What do they need now? What strengths can we build on?

Words matter. Let’s stop deficit-based narratives and start creating environments where students are seen for who they are—not just what they lack.