NWEA Report: Young Students' Stagnant Reading Scores

A report published by NWEA reveals that first and second graders continue to perform worse than their pre-pandemic counterparts in math and reading tests. While math scores show a slow recovery, reading scores have remained stagnant since 2021. Researchers, including Megan Kuhfeld from NWEA, suggest that the academic slump is not solely due to instructional disruption but also broader societal shifts, such as fewer parents reading to their children. The United States===Federal government of the United States has provided billions to school districts, but results are mixed, with the United States===National Assessment of Educational Progress showing continued declines in reading for older students. Some school districts, like Minnetonka Public Schools, have seen recovery in reading scores through targeted interventions. States and cities, including United States===California, United States===New York City, and United States===New Mexico, are investing in pre-kindergarten and free child care to address early literacy challenges.