The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the vital role school systems play in daily life, from learning and socialization to nutrition programs, transportation, and mental health. In the absence of in-person instruction, countless new stressors impacted families, teachers, and administrators who were working to maintain consistency for students. Five years out from the start of the pandemic, the impacts can still be felt throughout the education field. As of 2024, California students are half a year behind their 2019 predecessors, remaining 31% of a grade equivalent below pre-pandemic levels. New teachers are also entering the field at significantly lower rates and veteran teachers are retiring earlier in their careers. Despite these persistent challenges, the pandemic also revealed new pathways to success for schools. There are opportunities to increase access to learning technologies, collaborate more closely with parents to reduce chronic absenteeism, and even uplift students’ and teachers’ voices in transformative education policies. To help break down the lasting effects of the pandemic on education and how we can address them, we reached out to five experts from the UC Davis School of Education to learn more.