Acknowledging the long-term gains of the U.S. education system could give teachers, parents and leaders the confidence needed to restore our schools.
Paul E. Peterson and M. Danish Shakeel
Opinion contributors
- U.S. students for 50 years made remarkable test score gains in math, steady ones in reading
- Gaps between white students and students of color closed by one-half or more pre-COVID
- Progress was made toward closing the achievement gap between the “haves” and “have-nots”
According to the just released National Assessment of Educational Progress, known as the nation’s report card, 9-year-old students suffered over the past two years the worst declines in student achievement in math and reading in over half a century. What’s worse, the lowest performing ones suffered the most serious shortfalls.
