A recent analysis reveals a continuing decline in reading proficiency among U.S. students, a trend researchers have termed a “reading recession” that began well before the COVID-19 pandemic. However, select states and local districts have bucked this pattern by overhauling reading instruction and providing targeted support for struggling readers.
Researchers from Harvard, Stanford, and Dartmouth examined standardized test data from over 5,000 school districts across 38 states, part of a comprehensive Education Scorecard. Their findings show that between 2022 and 2025, only five states—Louisiana, Maryland, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Indiana—and the District of Columbia demonstrated meaningful growth in reading scores. Nationally, students remain nearly half a grade level behind pre-pandemic reading levels.
Reading Decline and Contributing Factors
Reading scores for fourth and eighth graders have been declining since 2015 and 2013, respectively, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress. Harvard professor Thomas Kane, a contributor to the Education Scorecard, described the pandemic as exacerbating an ongoing “learning recession” that began about a decade ago. He cited reduced emphasis on test-based accountability and increased time spent on social media as possible factors contributing to the decline.
Phonics-Based Instruction Leads Recovery in Some Areas
State leaders in the few areas with rising reading scores have implemented policies requiring phonics-based instruction, known as the “science of reading.” This approach emphasizes phonics and decoding skills over previous methods that encouraged guessing words based on context. These states also mandated screening for learning disabilities such as dyslexia and increased teacher training investment. For example, Modesto, California, revamped its reading curriculum during the pandemic and provided extensive training in phonics through programs like LETRS. The district saw an improvement equivalent to 13 weeks of additional reading progress, though scores remain below grade level overall.
Detroit’s public schools also reported gains after a legal settlement that provided over $94 million to improve conditions and resources. The district implemented targeted reading interventions and attendance initiatives, reducing chronic absenteeism and improving learning consistency. Educators there emphasize the importance of regular attendance in raising achievement levels.
Mathematics Scores Show Broader Improvement
While reading recovery is limited, math test scores have improved in nearly every state between 2022 and 2025. Southern states, including Louisiana and Alabama, have led these gains through reforms that standardize math instruction, regular testing, and interventions for struggling students. Alabama, in particular, saw notable reading improvements after adopting phonics-based reading laws and recently introduced a Numeracy Act to improve math outcomes.
Why it matters
The persistent decline in reading proficiency has significant implications for educational equity and long-term student outcomes. The progress in select states highlights that widespread improvement is possible with targeted policy and instructional reforms. As schools continue to recover from pandemic disruptions, these examples provide models for reversing declining literacy and math achievement nationally.
Background
U.S. educational achievement, as measured by test scores and graduation rates, steadily improved from the 1990s until the mid-2010s. The recent “reading recession” interrupts this progress, coinciding with changes in education policy that reduced standardized testing requirements and an increase in digital media consumption among youth. The “science of reading” approach aligns with longstanding research on effective literacy instruction, and its adoption marks a shift away from less structured teaching methods that contributed to declining reading levels.
Sources
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