December 5, 2022

December 5, 2022

How US Test Scores Have Dipped Since COVID

The “nation’s report card” is out from the National Assessment of Educational Progress – and the news, especially in the wake of the COVID pandemic, is not what educators and parents were hoping for.

Across the entire United States, there’s been a drop in test scores, particularly in math and reading, when compared with scores from before the pandemic. The test scores before and after COVID tell quite the story.

Most people likely assumed that there has been a COVID impact on learning, but just how drastic was it? And where do we go from here? Are declining test stores here to stay, or can we soldier past them and make up ground? Read on to learn how US test scores have dipped since COVID, and what we can do about it.

How The Pandemic Affects Students’ Learning
It’s no secret that the pandemic disrupted learning in a variety of ways. Schools suddenly shut down and many students did not have the opportunity to complete their learning throughout 2020.

When learning moved online, students may not have had equal access to computers or the internet, which both had a huge impact on learning, as well as highlighting the inequities that exist for children outside of the classroom that can make achievement inside the classroom more difficult. Schools in high-poverty areas were hit the hardest by the pandemic; students missed more learning there than in low-poverty schools.

Now that schools are back in session and face-to-face learning is once again being practiced, problems unfortunately still exist. There is a noticeable shortage of educators in many schools, and absenteeism for teachers and students due to illness has made getting back to learning even more complicated.

How US Test Scores Have Dipped Since COVID
A new research study completed by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) examined reading and math scores across the United States, and what the study found, when compared with pre-pandemic learning, was quite sobering.

Every two years between January and March, the NAEP assessment is given in major school systems across the United States to all grade levels. An assessment had not been completed since 2019. But in 2022, the entire country saw the largest decrease in learning ever reported. Reading scores for children in kindergarten through the 12th grade saw levels that haven’t been as low since 1992. Math saw an eight-point decline, which was historic – and not in a good way.

To put things in perspective, NAEPs researchers consider a 10-point drop or gain to be equal to about one year of learning in school. A one- or two-point decline sets off serious alarm bells for these researchers and the educational community as a whole, showing just how serious the declines in reading and math truly are.

When it comes to math, it seems that eighth-graders had the biggest drop. Thirty-eight percent scored below basic levels in their math skills, an increase from the 31% we saw before the pandemic.

No states saw any appreciative gains in learning; in fact, every area saw falling test scores in at least one major subject. The study also found that Hispanic and Black students saw the largest decreases in scores, widening the gap between different groups when it comes to learning. Additionally, states with higher remote learning rates had more significant drops.

What Can Be Done?
The fallout from the pandemic will be felt for years in a variety of areas, including education. But that doesn’t mean all hope is lost. There are things educators can do to help children develop their knowledge and skills and make up for some of the learning lost.

Many leaders at schools across the country are working with the community to build programs that can help students recoup some of their learning. Tutoring programs several times per week are just one strategy used by schools to help students move forward. Some schools are also adding days to their calendar in an attempt to make up for days lost; extending the school year is an easy way to continue learning.

The pandemic was a dark cloud, but the silver lining does exist. Schools that were high-poverty and in trouble before the pandemic are now getting an injection of hope to fix long-standing issues and catapult learning for kids. Funding for additional school programs is readily available, too. For many educators, it’s not simply about recovering from the pandemic, but about putting things into practice now that are good overall for kids and schools.

Another aspect of schooling the pandemic has put into sharp relief is mental health. Many schools have added additional mental health services in the wake of COVID for everyone, not just students. That is a service that has been lacking for students and teachers for some time, so it’s a very good thing that has come out of a less-than-ideal situation.

The impact of COVID-19 on learning and testing may be significant, but not all hope is lost. Vaccination rates are up and students again have access to in-person learning. Things are returning to normal, and being able to take a step back to see how the pandemic impacted education will help us plan for the future. Now is the time to focus on the ways the education system can be improved for everyone. We’ve all been through the pandemic together – and we’ll work on ways to improve and catch up together, too.

Featured image by Nguyen Dang Hoang Nhu on Unsplash