Overview
- The Education Scorecard, released Wednesday, finds students on average about half a grade behind in reading while math improved in most states, with only five states plus D.C. showing meaningful reading gains since 2022.
- Louisiana stands out as the only state above 2019 levels in both reading and math, ranking first in reading growth and second in math.
- Researchers spotlight more than 400 districts outperforming demographically similar peers, including Modesto, Compton, Los Angeles Unified and Detroit.
- States and districts with gains commonly adopted phonics-based “science of reading” instruction along with screening for dyslexia and targeted tutoring, though some places that changed curricula still saw declines.
- Recovery has been uneven, with federal relief helping the highest-poverty districts while many middle-poverty systems lagged, and chronic absenteeism has fallen since 2022 but remains above pre-pandemic levels.