Overview

• The 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) found that 33% of eighth graders and 40% of fourth graders have 'below-basic' reading skills, the highest levels recorded in decades.
• Experts attribute the decline to multiple factors, including pandemic-related disruptions, increased screen time, and shifts in educational priorities toward test preparation.
• The pandemic's impact on early literacy development and absenteeism continues to affect students' foundational reading skills, especially among younger learners.
• Policy responses include proposals to limit in-school smartphone use, expand school choice programs, and increase funding for teacher training and literacy resources.
• Data shows that students in Catholic schools and those participating in educational choice programs performed better, highlighting disparities in educational outcomes across school types.