Concussion (Jun 2023)

Return-to-learn after concussion in Washington state public high schools during the COVID-19 pandemic

  • Shyam J Deshpande,
  • Aspen Avery,
  • Julian Takagi-Stewart,
  • Brianna Mills,
  • Qian Qiu,
  • Monica S Vavilala

DOI
https://doi.org/10.2217/cnc-2022-0011
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8, no. 2

Abstract

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Aim: To understand academic support structures for Washington state public high school students with concussion during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials & methods: Prospective, repeated cross-sectional study of 21 schools in 2020 and 2021. Results: About 28% of schools reported not providing any return-to-learn (RTL) accommodations for students with concussion throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. RTL accommodation provision was associated with larger student body size (β = 0.002) and higher graduation rate (β = 0.261) but was not associated with presence of RTL school policy. About 38.1% of schools received no guidance on how to provide RTL accommodations during the COVID-19 pandemic, and many reported that students with concussion struggled more. Conclusion: Schools struggled to provide RTL accommodations for students with concussion during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the need for evidence-based guidance and resource allocation to vulnerable schools.

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