US Students’ Test Scores Decline: Report Reveals Causes

Are students in the U.S. falling behind? A comprehensive new report suggests a troubling trend: average test scores for students in grades 3 through 8 have been on the decline since 2013. This phenomenon, dubbed a “learning recession,” is detailed in a recent study by researchers from prestigious institutions like Harvard, Stanford, and Dartmouth.

Understanding the ‘Learning Recession’

The report, titled “From Learning Recession to Learning Recovery: Understanding the Sources of U.S. K-12 Improvement,” utilized the Education Recovery Scorecard, developed in 2022. This scorecard tracks post-pandemic academic recovery across the country. Researchers analyzed reading and math scores from over 100 school districts between 2009 and 2025.

The findings are stark: average test scores have been dropping since 2013. Notably, the decline in reading scores was already significant before the pandemic (2017-19) and continued at a similar pace during the pandemic years (2019-22). In fact, 8th-grade reading scores on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) hit their lowest point since 1990.

Key Factors Contributing to the Decline

So, what’s behind this educational slowdown? The report points to two primary culprits: a decrease in test-based accountability and a significant increase in social media usage among students. Tom Kane, a report author and faculty director at Harvard’s Center for Education Policy Research (CEPR), stated that the “learning recession” began when policymakers reduced the emphasis on test-based accountability, coinciding with social media’s growing influence on children’s lives.

While math achievement showed a positive uptick between 2022 and 2024, returning to pre-2013 improvement rates, reading scores continued to lag. However, the report offers a glimmer of hope, indicating that 2025 might mark the beginning of a turnaround in reading, potentially due to early literacy reforms implemented in several states.

• Decline in test-based accountability measures.
• Increased social media use by students.
• Pre-pandemic decline in reading scores.
• Post-pandemic continuation of score deceleration.

Recommendations for Recovery

To combat this trend, researchers suggest several actionable steps. Prioritizing the reduction of student absences is crucial. They also recommend exploring ways to limit phone use in schools and social media engagement outside of school hours. At the federal level, support for initiatives aimed at reducing absenteeism, funding literacy coaches, and implementing third-grade retention policies are advised.

With federal pandemic relief funds set to expire, education leaders are urged to consider achievement losses since 2019 when identifying schools that require additional support and intervention. It’s a call to action to ensure all students have the opportunity to recover and thrive academically.