The latest national test scores in reading, math and science reflect more of the same pattern in American education: Far too many students are underperforming.
In fact, in some ways, 2024’s scores are the worst yet – and schools seem to be largely unable to reverse the trend.
The most recent National Assessment of Educational Progress showed that close to half of American high school seniors don’t have a basic working knowledge of math. Only 35% were proficient in reading – 65% scored at or below basic. Nearly 40% of eighth graders scored below basic in science.
In light of consistently poor reading scores and partly due to some influential reporting, more than 40 states since 2013 have passed legislation attempting to reform their literacy education based on a body of research called “the science of reading.” The movement has been particularly pronounced in the past six years, with eight states passing literacy education reform laws in 2019, 13 in 2021 and 17 in 2023, according to Education Week.
Math and science haven’t experienced the same kind of feverish reform lately, but a group of teachers, professors and industry insiders have developed new math and science standards they believe are a step in the right direction.
