Progress in Student Performance Amidst a Decade-Long Learning Slump
It's no secret that students' math and reading scores have been slipping over the last few years, but this trend isn't a byproduct of the pandemic. It's part of a longer, "learning recession" that started long before the global health crisis hit. A yearly, comprehensive study exploring student data has revealed some intriguing insights and signs of hope, despite the ongoing challenges in public education.
Key Findings from the Education Scorecard
Several key findings emerged from the latest annual study, offering a glimmer of hope to families, educators, and policymakers. The majority of states are seeing improvements in math scores, and it appears that federal relief funds have helped lower-income districts bounce back. However, reading scores haven't experienced the same upward trend, with only a few states showing progress, all of which have made legislative changes in their teaching methods.
It's important to note that the data for this yearly study comes from most states and Washington D.C., with a few exceptions. Some states were excluded due to reasons such as recent changes in their state assessments, high test opt-out rates, or insufficient district-level data.
The 'Learning Recession' Phenomenon
From 1990 to 2013, math scores among fourth and eighth graders increased consistently, showing significant progress. Reading scores also improved, although not as drastically.
This period of consistent improvement is often overlooked, but it may be considered one of the most significant social policy successes of the last half-century. The decline that started around 2013, particularly in reading scores, has been steady and noticeable. The causes of this decline remain largely speculative.
Possible Causes of the Learning Recession
Two potential explanations for the decline in student performance have been suggested. The first is the phasing out of test-based accountability, a federal education law known for its strict approach to improving student performance. By 2013, many states were granted relief from the law's consequences, and the law was eventually replaced with a new federal law that de-emphasized test-based accountability.
The second theory is the rise of social media use among teenagers. Around 2013, the use of social media exploded, and by 2022, nearly half of all teens reported using the internet "almost constantly". Lower-achieving students were found to be the heaviest users of social media, and a clear gap was observed between the highest and lowest performers.
Signs of a Turnaround
Despite this decade-long learning recession, there are indications that things might be slowly improving. Most states have shown significant improvement in math scores, with only a few failing to make gains. Reading scores continue to be a concern, with most states showing no improvement.
While progress is being made, the decline that began around 2013 has been so steep and enduring that only one state has managed to return to its 2019 performance levels in both subjects.
The U-Shaped Recovery and the Power of Federal Relief
The recent study reveals an interesting pattern from 2022 to 2025, a "U-shaped recovery". Schools with the highest and lowest levels of poverty saw similar improvements in math and reading scores. This could be due to the fact that the highest-poverty districts received the most federal COVID relief funds, allowing them to invest in interventions such as tutoring and summer school.
The Impact of Changing Reading Teaching Techniques
One promising development is the recent shift in teaching reading to young children, with many states doubling down on the importance of teaching phonics. The states that have seen improvements in reading scores have all implemented comprehensive reading reforms. On the other hand, the states that haven't implemented these reforms have seen no improvement.
One standout success story in reading improvement comes from the Baltimore City Public Schools. Despite the high poverty levels in the district, Baltimore students have made notable strides in reading. The district's CEO attributes this success to their early adoption of phonics-based teaching methods, leading to impressive reading gains and a strong recovery from the pandemic-induced learning setbacks.
In conclusion, despite facing a decade-long learning recession, there are signs of hope and progress in student performance. The key now is to build on these successes and continue working towards improving education for all students.
It's no secret that students' math and reading scores have been slipping over the last few years, but this trend isn't a byproduct of the pandemic. It's part of a longer, "learning recession" that started long before the global health crisis hit. A yearly, comprehensive study exploring student data has revealed some intriguing insights and signs of hope, despite the ongoing challenges in public education.
Key Findings from the Education Scorecard
Several key findings emerged from the latest annual study, offering a glimmer of hope to families, educators, and policymakers. The majority of states are seeing improvements in math scores, and it appears that federal relief funds have helped lower-income districts bounce back. However, reading scores haven't experienced the same upward trend, with only a few states showing progress, all of which have made legislative changes in their teaching methods.
It's important to note that the data for this yearly study comes from most states and Washington D.C., with a few exceptions. Some states were excluded due to reasons such as recent changes in their state assessments, high test opt-out rates, or insufficient district-level data.
The 'Learning Recession' Phenomenon
From 1990 to 2013, math scores among fourth and eighth graders increased consistently, showing significant progress. Reading scores also improved, although not as drastically.
This period of consistent improvement is often overlooked, but it may be considered one of the most significant social policy successes of the last half-century. The decline that started around 2013, particularly in reading scores, has been steady and noticeable. The causes of this decline remain largely speculative.
Possible Causes of the Learning Recession
Two potential explanations for the decline in student performance have been suggested. The first is the phasing out of test-based accountability, a federal education law known for its strict approach to improving student performance. By 2013, many states were granted relief from the law's consequences, and the law was eventually replaced with a new federal law that de-emphasized test-based accountability.
The second theory is the rise of social media use among teenagers. Around 2013, the use of social media exploded, and by 2022, nearly half of all teens reported using the internet "almost constantly". Lower-achieving students were found to be the heaviest users of social media, and a clear gap was observed between the highest and lowest performers.
Signs of a Turnaround
Despite this decade-long learning recession, there are indications that things might be slowly improving. Most states have shown significant improvement in math scores, with only a few failing to make gains. Reading scores continue to be a concern, with most states showing no improvement.
While progress is being made, the decline that began around 2013 has been so steep and enduring that only one state has managed to return to its 2019 performance levels in both subjects.
The U-Shaped Recovery and the Power of Federal Relief
The recent study reveals an interesting pattern from 2022 to 2025, a "U-shaped recovery". Schools with the highest and lowest levels of poverty saw similar improvements in math and reading scores. This could be due to the fact that the highest-poverty districts received the most federal COVID relief funds, allowing them to invest in interventions such as tutoring and summer school.
The Impact of Changing Reading Teaching Techniques
One promising development is the recent shift in teaching reading to young children, with many states doubling down on the importance of teaching phonics. The states that have seen improvements in reading scores have all implemented comprehensive reading reforms. On the other hand, the states that haven't implemented these reforms have seen no improvement.
One standout success story in reading improvement comes from the Baltimore City Public Schools. Despite the high poverty levels in the district, Baltimore students have made notable strides in reading. The district's CEO attributes this success to their early adoption of phonics-based teaching methods, leading to impressive reading gains and a strong recovery from the pandemic-induced learning setbacks.
In conclusion, despite facing a decade-long learning recession, there are signs of hope and progress in student performance. The key now is to build on these successes and continue working towards improving education for all students.