05/19/2025
Why the Drop in 4th-Grade Reading Scores?
Several factors likely contributed to this decline, based on available data and analysis:
Pandemic Disruptions: The 4th graders tested in 2024 were in kindergarten during the 2019-2020 school year, a critical time for early reading development. School closures and the shift to remote learning disrupted foundational skill-building, like phonics. Experts note that teaching these skills virtually was challenging, leading to lasting gaps in reading comprehension, which NAEP measures.
Widening Gaps for Low Performers: The NAEP data shows that lower-performing students experienced the steepest declines. This suggests systemic inequities in access to resources, such as consistent internet and devices during remote learning, which disproportionately affected struggling students. Chronic absenteeism, though slightly improved since 2022, remains high and correlates with lower scores.
Long-Term Trends: Reading scores were declining even before the pandemic, indicating deeper issues. Some experts argue that an overemphasis on phonics in recent ""science of reading"" reforms might neglect comprehension skills, which NAEP tests. Others point to increased screen time and reduced reading for pleasure—fewer than half of 9-year-olds read daily for fun, per NAEP long-term trend data.
Socioeconomic Factors: Poverty strongly correlates with performance. The 2024 NAEP introduced a new socioeconomic status index, showing that 77% of the wealthiest 4th graders scored above the national average, while lower-income students lagged significantly, exacerbating the gap.
At Abracadabra Books, we’re tackling this crisis by making nonfiction fun and engaging for K-5 readers. Our National Parks Box Set sparks curiosity and builds comprehension skills—order now on Amazon!
ReadWithLove
