Depressed, dissatisfied by virtual learning. Survey shows KY students troubled by COVID-19.

A group of Kentucky high school students want to know how their peers are navigating school at home during the COVID-19 crisis, so they’re polling thousands of other teens to find out.

Some patterns are beginning to emerge in early results, which members of the Prichard Committee Student Voice Team were set to reveal Monday at a virtual panel discussion, including:

▪ Cyber bullying has decreased since COVID-19 closed schools.

▪ Many students report feeling more depression, anxiety and a sense of worthlessness than before schools closed.

▪ Once school buildings closed, students have been losing their mental health services and find themselves needing and wanting more.

▪ So far, the majority of students polled are not satisfied with remote learning.

▪ Many students report losing their human connection with school. Students are yearning for more connection and empathy and also empathizing more with teachers.

▪ There are some significant technical challenges for some students in participating in remote learning.

As of Monday, more than 8,300 students from almost every Kentucky county had responded to the Prichard Committee Student Voice Team survey.

“At the heart of our work is amplifying the stories of students who are most marginalized within the public education system,” said Emanuelle “Emmy” Sippy, a junior at Henry Clay High School in Lexington and the team’s student director. “Students are the experts on what learning during COVID-19 looks like and feels like. Our goal is to help educators, policymakers, and advocates see students as partners in getting through this crisis and in improving schools beyond it.”

The team developed the survey, which closes May 22, in consultation with research experts from Kentucky and around the country.

The survey focuses on the Non-Traditional Instruction environment, the home environment, and personal wellness. It asks for student feedback on the accessibility of remote learning, including internet and computer access and the availability of a distraction-free workspace.

In the student-to-student survey, the Student Voice Team wants to gain a better understanding on how classwork, motivation, stress, and time commitments changed from before schools closed. The team is expected to release a full report of their findings at the August meeting of the Kentucky Board of Education.

This story was originally published May 18, 2020 at 1:54 PM.