As Arizona students head back to school, one of the questions education leaders are asking is how to help those students overcome pandemic-related learning loss.

Data from the state education department and Helios Education Foundation show student growth and proficiency have both declined in math and English language arts between 2019 and 2021; students in early grades have been impacted more than those in older ones.

Paul Perrault is senior vice president of community impact and learning at the Helios Education Foundation.

The Show spoke with him and started the conversation by asking if it’s fair to say that this learning loss is not something that happened, but rather something that continues to happen.

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