Summary
A decade-long decline in U.S. high school students’ reading and math scores has continued, reaching the lowest level in over 20 years. The COVID-19 pandemic contributed to the problem, but experts note that other factors have also played a role in the decline. Efforts to address the issue are ongoing, with calls for changes in education policy and spending.
Key Facts
- The scores are from the National Assessment of Education Progress, often called the nation's report card.
- 12th-grade students in the U.S. scored lower in reading and math than in previous years, reaching a level unseen for over two decades.
- Eighth-grade students also showed declines in science skills.
- The COVID-19 pandemic affected education but is not the sole cause of declining scores.
- Factors like more screen time, shorter attention spans, and changes in teaching methods might contribute to lower scores.
- Education officials and lawmakers are discussing policy changes to improve student learning.
- There is a noted shift in English teaching methods, focusing on shorter texts rather than full books.
- The results highlight a need for more targeted efforts to improve education and bridge the achievement gap.
