City Club of Portland examines impact of pandemic on schools The program will address disparities in education, which have grown worse during the COVID-19 crisis. Eleven months ago, the closure of Oregon K-12 schools launched what for many parents and children has been a bizarre and incredibly disruptive, difficult experience, one that some call tragic. Already significant, disparities in school achievement based on race, ethnicity and wealth have grown. Many parents, those with the financial means, have set up "pods" of self-funded learning for their children, paying tutors or even full-time teachers. Other parents have had to cut back on work hours to help their child learn remotely, thus increasing inequities.