Students and educators: Tell us about your year learning or teaching behind a mask

Candace Washington poses in front of children playing at the playground at Carole Robertson Center for Learning in Chicago in May. (Youngrae Kim for Chalkbeat)

During the coronavirus pandemic, masks became as familiar a sight in schools as lunchboxes and backpacks. And while the CDC recently advised vaccinated Americans that they can stop wearing masks indoors, the agency has recommended that masks be worn in school until at least the end of this school year — and possibly beyond.

As the 2020-2021 school year draws to a close, Chalkbeat wants to look back on how face coverings changed the nature of schooling. And we need your help. Please fill out the survey below to tell us whether your experience as a teacher or students was markedly changed by wearing a mask as a teacher or student, how you adapted, and how you will potentially face entering another school year in a mask. 

We would love to hear from students and teachers whose experiences were strongly affected by wearing a mask, such as English language learners, students with disabilities and their teachers, young readers, or early literacy coaches.

We’ll use these responses to inform our reporting and tell stories that reflect on this challenging year.

If you are having trouble viewing this form on mobile, go here.

The Latest

Left-wing political coalitions have typically supported elected school boards. Yet as districts face new existential threats, progressive mayors are testing that and other assumptions.

The Denver Classroom Teachers Association has filed a grievance alleging that Denver Public Schools is violating a new provision of the teachers contract.

State lawmakers approved an initiative this year that aims to help students connect their education to the workforce.

The district is exploring ways to continue to boost ridership. The project began to improve attendance.

Proposed governance changes from the Indianapolis Local Education Alliance range from an elected IPS board that oversees both district and charter schools to an IPS board fully appointed by the mayor.

Mayor Eric Adams has lost control of New York City’s school board. He no longer has a majority of appointees, and members have rejected several proposals recently.