How did Michigan educators respond to the suspension of face-to-face instruction due to COVID-19?
An analysis of educators’ responses to the 2020 EPIC COVID-19 survey

August 2020

To begin to understand how Michigan educators responded during the transition to distance learning, the Education Policy Innovation Collaborative (EPIC) conducted a survey of K-8 teachers and principals in traditional public schools (TPSs) and charter schools (PSAs) across the state. The survey asked educators about how they were engaging with students, the challenges they were facing, the resources and supports they were using, and their concerns about the impacts of COVID-19.

KEY FINDINGS INCLUDE:

• Educators reported concerns about the impact of COVID-19 on both instruction and student well-being.
• Teachers most often reported regularly engaging with students via online resources and communications and less often sent home physical resources.
• Educators believed that better internet access and access to devices would help to improve distance learning.
• To improve their ability to facilitate distance learning, teachers want virtual resources that provide content, training, strategies, and ready-made lessons.
• Teachers reported that the greatest challenges they faced in transitioning to remote learning revolved around student engagement and access to technology.
• Teachers reported tapping into their own networks and seeking their own resources more often than using those official channels provided.
• Principals reported more helpful communication from local groups.