The Impact of COVID-19 on the Transition to School Among African American Children with Disabilities

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic drastically impacted children's educational experiences worldwide, as children and families were forced to navigate constant and unexpected changes all at once. Typical educational transitions for children were disrupted, like the transition to school, which can be seen as a critical period in a child’s education and can influence their later educational and life trajectories. Prior to the pandemic, African American children with disabilities have been shown to be less prepared for the transition to school, leading to an educational gap when compared to their White counterparts. Consequently, there is little known knowledge of how African American families of children with disabilities are preparing their children for this important transition. As the transition to school is essential to the educational outcomes of African American children with disabilities, this study sought to explore how the pandemic impacted the school readiness process for African American children with disabilities and delays during a time of heightened stress and crisis for families and educators.