Student test scores in reading and math have been dropping since around 2013, well
before the COVID pandemic. Researchers point to two likely causes: schools facing less
pressure to improve after federal accountability laws were loosened, and the rise of social
media pulling students away from learning. The good news is that math scores are starting to
recover in most states, and schools that have adopted research-backed reading methods, like
teaching phonics, are seeing real improvement in reading too. Federal relief money also made a
difference for schools in lower-income communities. Baltimore City schools are a standout
example, with reading scores climbing sharply after the district committed early to
evidence-based reading instruction. The bigger picture is that American schools made
tremendous gains for two decades before the slide began, and researchers say we can get
back on that track.
