A line graph showing the percent of students who scored at least "basic" on the Nation's Report Card, a standardized federal test, from 2003 to 2024. There are lines for 4th-grade math, 8th-grade math, 4th-grade reading and 8th-grade reading. Those lines have mostly gone down since the twenty-teens. The percent of students struggling with basic skills has been rising. Only 60% of students reached 'basic' for 4th-grade reading.

There's going to be a lot of spin from all sides about the cause of these test score declines. It's important to see the full context: skills in math and reading have been slipping since the 2010's. For context, "basic" skills in 4th grade include identifying main ideas & understanding number lines.

'Mississippi miracle': Kids' reading scores have soared in Deep South states Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana have seen a promising turnaround in their student reading scores after passing a series of similar literacy reforms. The success has grabbed the attention of educato...

The one bright spot? Louisiana and Alabama. LA is the only state that has exceeded its pre-pandemic scores in 4th grade reading, and AL for 4th-grade math. Both states have majorly reformed how they teach reading, and Alabama's 2022 Numeracy Act aimed to overhaul math as well.

US children fall further behind in reading, make little improvement in math on national exam New results from a national exam find that America’s children have continued to lose ground on reading skills in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and have made little improvement in math.

Despite $190 billion in federal spending for academic recovery, a worryingly high number of children in the U.S. still struggle to read -- a trend that began well before the pandemic.

Trump won't ban immigration arrests at school. Some families are now weighing school attendance As President Donald Trump cracks down on immigrants in the U.S. illegally, some families are wondering if it is safe to send their children to school.

“They’re not even at risk of deportation and they’re still scared." Schools are fielding calls from parents worried about raids. One expected so many students to miss class the day after Trump took office that it accelerated its exam schedule so kids wouldn't miss tests. apnews.com/article/trum...

An aspiring nurse, a football star, a single mother and a father of 2 killed in New Orleans attack An 18-year-old woman dreaming of becoming a nurse, a single mother, a father of two and a football star suffered fatal injuries when the driver of a white pickup truck sped onto Bourbon Street, packed...

She wanted to be a nurse. He was a father of two. He was a talented football player. She was a single mom. He was an executive. They were celebrating the hopes of a new year. They all were so very young. apnews.com/article/new-...

These Native tribes are working with schools to boost attendance Nationwide, Native American students miss school far more frequently than their peers, but not in Oklahoma.

In virtually every state, Native students miss school @ far higher rates than the average—& in many cases, rates have ⬆️ since the pandemic's height. But in Oklahoma, a different pattern has emerged. ICT's Felix Clary visited one town w/ high Native attendance to learn why.
apnews.com/article/nati...

Native American students miss school at higher rates. It only got worse during the pandemic Years after COVID-19 disrupted American schools, nearly every state is still struggling with attendance.

As part of AP's ongoing coverage of chronically absent kids, we partnered with ICT to zoom in on Native American communities. Poverty, generational trauma, cultural bias & an entrenched distrust of schools have contributed to especially high rates of Native absenteeism.
apnews.com/article/scho...

Native American students miss school at higher rates. It only got worse during the pandemic Years after COVID-19 disrupted American schools, nearly every state is still struggling with attendance.

Chronic absenteeism is a crisis for schools across America, but Native students have been particularly hard-hit. We explore how one school district in Arizona is using cultural success coaches to help families address challenges that keep students from coming to school.

Schools are bracing for upheaval over fear of mass deportations Regardless of whether President-elect Donald Trump follows through on his pledge to deport millions of immigrants, educators around the U.S. are bracing for upheaval.

"If 'you constantly threaten people with the possibility of mass deportation, it really inhibits peoples’ ability to function in society and for their kids to get an education.'"

Bianca Vázquez Toness on the implications of Trump's mass deportation pledge for schools: apnews.com/article/immi...

Texas education board approves optional Bible-infused curriculum for elementary schools Texas’ education board has voted to allow Bible-infused teachings in elementary schools. The approval Friday follows other Republican-led states that have pushed this year to give religion a larger pr...

"Texas’ plans to implement Biblical teachings in public school lesson plans is the latest effort by Republican-controlled states to bring religion into the classroom." apnews.com/article/texa...

Education News Starter Pack Join the conversation

Don't miss out on the latest education news.
👉 In just two clicks you can follow the most comprehensive list of education newsrooms and journalists.
go.bsky.app/UccLjhX

My Associated Press colleague @mrsmithap.bsky.social has made a very useful starter pack of AP journalists bsky.app/starter-pack...