Sarah Mervosh, The New York Times Published: 28 Jul 2021 10:29 AM BdST Updated: 28 Jul 2021 10:29 AM BdST Third graders practice reading at an elementary school in Salem, Mass, March 29, 2021. The New York Times How much did the pandemic affect students? "); } The latest research is out, and the answer is clear: dramatically. In math and reading, students are behind where they would be after a normal year, with the most vulnerable students showing the steepest drops, according to two new reports from consulting firm McKinsey & Co and the NWEA, a nonprofit organisation that provides academic assessments. The students did not just stall early on; the setbacks accumulated over time — and continued even after many students had returned to the classroom this spring.