Overview

• Students who began school during the pandemic are behind historical academic trends, especially in math and reading.
• Older students, particularly those who started fourth grade in 2021, show signs of recovery, unlike their younger counterparts.
• The youngest students, who started kindergarten or first grade in 2021, are the furthest behind and continue to fall below historical trends.
• Factors contributing to the lag include disrupted early childhood education, virtual learning challenges, and inadequate foundational skill development.
• Experts suggest targeted interventions for early elementary grades to help close the widening academic gap.