Impact of COVID-19 on Student Achievement in Math and Reading

SOURCE www.npr.org
New data from the Nation's Report Card shows that while some progress has been made in math scores for fourth and eighth graders after the disruptions caused by COVID-19, most students are still performing below pre-pandemic levels. The pandemic worsened existing struggles in student achievement that began before COVID-19, raising concerns about the effectiveness of current education policies and practices.

Key Points

  • The pandemic exacerbated existing struggles in student achievement.
  • Funding and interventions have led to some improvements but more progress is needed.
  • Issues in student achievement may have roots in policies, technology, and shifts in reading habits.

Pros

  • Some students have made up academic ground lost during the pandemic in math.
  • Research-backed interventions like summer school and tutoring have led to modest gains.
  • Some economically disadvantaged students showed improvements in math scores.

Cons

  • Most students in 2024 still performed below pre-pandemic 2019 levels in reading and math.
  • Achievement declines were observed even before the pandemic, indicating underlying issues.
  • Widening achievement gaps were noted among eighth graders, with lower-performing students losing ground.