The National Assessment of Educational Progress, often called the nation’s report card, detailed setbacks across all subjects and grade levels tested as schools across the country shuttered at various points during the pandemic.
The average math score for fourth graders fell by five points between 2019 and 2022. It was the largest decline in the subject on the national test in 50 years. In eighth grade, math scores fell by eight points, the largest drop recorded in the subject in the national test’s history.
The average reading scores for fourth and eighth graders also fell significantly. In fourth grade, it dropped by three points, the first decline in reading for that age group since 1992. In eighth grade, it fell by four points.
The test results indicate that the pandemic hurt the progress students would normally have made but did not erase gains made over past decades. Scores remained significantly higher than they were in the 1990s.
“The results are sobering and underscore the urgent need to address the unfinished learning and support students as they get back on track,” Peggy Carr, acting commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics, said in a statement.
School closures, virtual learning, and other pandemic disruptions exacerbated existing opportunity gaps. While most students experienced setbacks, the declines were steeper for historically marginalized students, especially Black and Hispanic children, who often had less access to remote learning and other resources.
“We have a long road to recovery, and it’s going to take a lot of time, effort, and money on the federal, state, and local levels,” said Chris Minnich, executive director of the Council of the Great City Schools.
The results have implications for efforts by the Biden administration to address pandemic-related learning gaps and improve educational equity. The administration has provided billions of dollars in federal aid to schools and expanded access to tutoring and other supports through the American Rescue Plan.
The findings of the report, which used data collected in the spring of 2022 from a sample of more than 600,000 students, align with other assessments of pandemic-era learning. Other studies have found that students lost ground in math and reading due to school closures and other disruptions, and that disadvantaged students were disproportionately affected.
Educators and policymakers face the challenge of addressing these setbacks while considering that students have also demonstrated resilience and adaptability.
“We have to move forward with strategies to support students and families, and rebuild the trust that’s been lost in the education system,” said Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers.
