WASHINGTON — A Senate panel scrutinized the declining reading, math, and science scores revealed by federal data, focusing on the pandemic’s impact on education. The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions discussed the “state of K-12 education” following troubling results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP).
NAEP, a key measure of student achievement, reported a 4-point drop in average science scores for eighth-graders since 2019. Twelfth-graders saw a 3-point decrease in math and reading scores from 2019 to 2024. Alarmingly, only one-third of high school seniors are college-ready in math, down from 37% in 2019.
Committee chair Sen. Bill Cassidy expressed concern over these scores not rebounding to pre-pandemic levels. He emphasized that education success depends on decision-making and resource allocation, advocating for state and local solutions.
Conversely, Sen. Bernie Sanders highlighted the broader societal issues affecting children, including poverty and family struggles, insisting on prioritizing students and educators.
Role of technology in education
Martin West of the National Assessment Governing Board suggested exploring the impact of smartphones and social media on youth learning. He noted the potential distraction and mental health challenges these technologies pose.
Indiana’s approach
Indiana’s Secretary of Education, Katie Jenner, showcased initiatives to boost academic performance, including a public-private partnership with Lilly Endowment to enhance early literacy. Indiana reported a historic increase in third-grade reading scores.
Jenner outlined measures to assist struggling secondary students, such as outcomes-based contracting for middle school reading. The state revamped high school diplomas and introduced outcomes-based incentives in funding and accountability measures.
‘State of education in shambles’
Some Democrats criticized President Donald Trump’s changes to the federal role in education, accusing his administration of undermining educational programs. Sen. Patty Murray expressed concerns about delayed and frozen educational progress, attributing it to Trump’s policies and actions by Education Secretary Linda McMahon.
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