WASHINGTON, D.C. — Ahead of the fourth anniversary of the shutting-down of schools in upstate New York schools due to the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Rep. Marc Molinaro (R, NY-19) has introduced the Think DIFFERENTLY About Ending Learning Loss Act. 

The bill, which builds on Molinaro’s Think DIFFERENTLY initiative, was introduced alongside U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D, WA-3).

During the pandemic, schools across the nation experienced prolonged closures, mask mandates and various restrictions. Students with disabilities were particularly affected, with limited or no access to essential therapies and extensive time away from the classroom, leading to Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals becoming no longer attainable.

Rep. Molinaro’s bill directs the Department of Education to conduct a study on the effects of learning loss for students with disabilities during the pandemic. The study will highlight the unique needs of these students so educators, parents and lawmakers can develop informed solutions to address learning loss. 

“Very little attention has been given to the educational needs of students with disabilities and the setbacks they endured during the pandemic,” Molinaro said. “As a father of a child on the autism spectrum, I saw learning loss firsthand. We can’t allow students with disabilities to just be left behind. This bipartisan effort will work to ensure students with disabilities get additional support to address the learning loss that occurred.”

Contributed by the office of Rep. Marc Molinaro.