America’s Learning Recession: A Decade of Decline in Student Test Scores

The alarming trend of declining student test scores across the United States has been a persistent concern for educators and policymakers over the past decade. According to data released by the Educational Opportunity Project at Stanford University, reading scores have plummeted 0.6 grades since 2015, while math scores have dropped 0.4 grades during the same period. This decline indicates that students are now significantly behind their peers from just a decade ago.

The downward trend in test scores began even before 2015, as revealed by the Education Scorecard report. From 1990 to 2013, students’ math and reading scores rose steadily. However, starting in 2013, the US entered what has been termed a “learning recession,” where the rate of improvement in reading and math began to flatten or drop. This trend continued through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Social media use among teenagers is one key factor contributing to this decline. Thomas Kane, an author of the Educational Scorecard report, notes that social media’s impact on youth is still not fully understood but likely plays a significant role in the decline in reading achievement. Students increasingly rely on screens for entertainment and information, which can negatively affect their reading habits.

The consequences of this learning recession are far-reaching. As Sean Reardon, faculty director of the Educational Opportunity Project and professor at Stanford University, observes, “We haven’t as a nation focused on public education––on improving it in the last decade.” This lack of attention has resulted in a significant decline in academic performance, with students struggling to keep pace with their peers from a decade ago.

Recent improvements in math achievement are encouraging, but experts caution that it’s too soon to know if this trend will be sustained. Reading scores have only begun to improve for the first time in a decade last year in some states, and these gains have been unevenly distributed, with larger improvements seen among high-income school districts.

The Education Scorecard report highlights two key factors contributing to the slide in testing performance: the dismantling of test-based accountability and the rise in social media use. While it’s unclear which factor has had a greater impact, experts agree that schools need to refocus on reading instruction, especially given the external effects of social media on students’ attention spans, sleep patterns, and anxiety levels.

The long-term implications of this learning recession are dire. As Thomas Kane emphasizes, “I think there are few things that are going to be more important to the long term success of the country than just focusing on teaching students to read.” The data is clear: American education needs a radical shift in approach, one that prioritizes reading instruction and mitigates the negative effects of social media on students’ academic performance.

To address this learning recession, policymakers and educators must work together. This requires a multifaceted approach, including investing in teacher training, implementing evidence-based reading programs, and promoting digital literacy among students. Investing in America’s education system will have significant long-term benefits, including driving economic growth, innovation, and progress.

The fate of America’s next generation hangs in the balance. It’s time for educators and policymakers to acknowledge the data, confront the challenges head-on, and work towards a more equitable and effective education system.