Lack of Focus Persists Among Students After Pandemic

Survey findings by the National Center for Education Statistics show that attention spans and disciplinary issues remain a problem in schools nationwide.

An instructor leads a classroom discussion in Houston on Aug. 23, 2021. Brandon Bell/Getty Images

Lack of focus and attention among K–12 students remains a serious problem in public schools long after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the return to in-person learning, according to the U.S. Department of Education.

In a July 23 research report, the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) reported that 75 percent of public schools dealt with moderate to severe lack of focus among students in the past academic year.