To mitigate the effects of COVID-19 on education outcomes, systems should prioritise foundational skills and adapt instruction to children’s learning levels

Education systems around the world were already facing a learning crisis before the COVID-19 pandemic. If nothing changes, school closures due to COVID-19 will exacerbate this learning crisis. But insights from recent research on education systems suggest that three steps can mitigate these losses and make systems better in the long run: 1) Commit to a system-wide prioritisation of foundational skills. 2) Assess children's learning levels when schools reopen. 3) Adapt instruction to meet children where they are.