Leading and Learning During the COVID-19 Pandemic: District and School Leaders’ Perspectives

October 2022

This report captures the perspectives of district, school, and teacher leaders to surface best practices for supporting student learning during COVID-19. We conducted 46 interviews with local leaders across five district cases as part of a multiple case study research design.

KEY FINDINGS INCLUDE:

• Districts had common strengths supporting their readiness to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic
• Local leaders engaged in community and data-informed decision-making to select and implement instructional modalities for the 2020-21 school year
• Local leaders engaged in clear and consistent two-way communication with families to share updates, learn about family preferences and needs, and provide access to resources
• Leaders prioritized social-emotional learning as a foundation for academic learning
• School leaders and teachers provided students with individualized support to promote engagement in learning
• Local leaders prioritized collaboration across staff
• Local leaders became more aware of inequities during the 2020-21 school year, deepening their commitment to providing equitable access to learning opportunities