U.S. Students Face Ongoing 'Reading Recession' Despite Some Local Improvements
A recent analysis by scholars from Harvard, Stanford, and Dartmouth reveals that U.S. students are experiencing a 'reading recession,' with national reading scores nearly half a grade level behind pre-pandemic levels. The study, which examined state test scores from over 5,000 school districts, found that only five states and the District of Columbia showed meaningful growth in reading scores from 2022 to 2025. Despite efforts to address learning gaps post-pandemic, reading scores have been declining since 2013 for eighth graders and 2015 for fourth graders. However, some districts, like those in Modesto, California, have bucked the trend, showing consistent improvements in both reading and math scores. 
