U.S. Education and Learning Loss

NWEA assessments administered during the 2024–25 school year show first‑ and second‑grade reading scores remain below pre‑COVID levels while math is slowly recovering and kindergarten math and science have stayed roughly the same. Researchers, including Megan Kuhfeld, say reading has plateaued since spring 2021 and reflects systemic causes inside and outside schools — with emerging evidence of less frequent parental reading — and some districts, like Minnetonka, report gains after shifting to phonics and more frequent literacy assessments but note lost early‑childhood experiences continue to hamper language development for low‑income students.