Recovering Lost Learning Due to COVID 19: Expanding Enrichment Opportunities in an Urban School District

Abstract

In the midst of the pandemic, this school district made a significant investment with recovery dollars to expand enrichment opportunities in art, music, and physical education for students in their K-8 schools. The hypothesis was increasing the quality and quantity of these opportunities, the school district would increase student engagement, lead to more empathetic and joyful learning environments, and create more time for teacher preparation and collaboration. There were a number of challenges in planning and implementation that district leaders and principals had to overcome in order to see this initiative come to fruition. Early results show some promising trends and anecdotes indicate that students are participating in extracurricular experiences that they never would have been exposed to without these opportunities.