Inside a South Orange County tutoring center one recent May afternoon, about 10 students were focused on math tasks as they worked to keep pace with their most unconventional school year on record. It’s no secret the 2020-21 curricular year was a challenge for Orange County, Calif., students, many of whom participated in the bulk of their studies learning remotely, forgoing their usual extracurricular activities. Now, as the current curricular year wraps up, parents and educators are working to ensure learners are prepared for the year ahead. According to a survey conducted by the Public Policy Institute of California in April, out of 1,602 Californians surveyed, more than eight in 10 believe K-12 students are falling behind academically as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Likewise, of those surveyed, 86 percent of public school parents said that their children are falling behind academically during the pandemic. Some students are turning …