Researchers report declining reading test scores across US school districts
Harvard, Stanford, and Dartmouth scholars analyzed state test scores from third to eighth grade across 5,000+ school districts in 38 states, finding that only five states plus DC showed meaningful reading score growth from 2022 to 2025. Students nationally remain nearly half a grade level behind pre-pandemic reading levels, with reading score declines predating the pandemic, extending back to 2013 for eighth graders and 2015 for fourth graders according to National Assessment of Educational Progress data.
- CNNfirst
- NY Post+8.5 h
- National Review+58.5 h
Lightly covered so far
Too few outlets to map a left-right split. Here is each take as it stands.
“Kids are in a 'reading recession,' as test scores continue to decline”
“Kids face a 'reading recession' as test scores continue to plummet across the US”
“Our Screen Culture Increasingly Can’t Read”