When millions of students shifted to remote learning in the wake of COVID-19, millions of parents abruptly became “proxy educators.” And when their children struggled, they struggled as well, according to a new research brief.

A team of researchers including Cassandra Davis (UNC Chapel Hill) and Alberto Ortega (Indiana University Bloomington) found that parents with struggling students have experienced significantly elevated levels of mental distress during the pandemic, regardless of their socioeconomic status or the number of children in their home.

Davis and Ortega join CPRE Knowledge Hub managing editor Keith Heumiller to discuss their findings, and some important implications for policymakers, school leaders and other stakeholders as we move forward in 2021.

Featured Research: Davis, C. R., Grooms, J., Ortega, A., Rubalcaba, J. A., & Vargas, E. (2020). “Distance learning and parental mental health during COVID-19.” Educational Researcher. Prepublished December 16, 2020.