Corey Turner

Yeah, a lot of not so good news, because even in fourth grade math, kids still aren't back to the scores we saw before the pandemic. In fact, when you break the data down, in only one state, Steve, Alabama, are fourth graders doing better in math than fourth graders were doing before the pandemic. One state.

Yeah, a lot of not so good news, because even in fourth grade math, kids still aren't back to the scores we saw before the pandemic. In fact, when you break the data down, in only one state, Steve, Alabama, are fourth graders doing better in math than fourth graders were doing before the pandemic. One state.

Yeah, a lot of not so good news, because even in fourth grade math, kids still aren't back to the scores we saw before the pandemic. In fact, when you break the data down, in only one state, Steve, Alabama, are fourth graders doing better in math than fourth graders were doing before the pandemic. One state.

And in eighth grade, there's a really worrying achievement gap that's been widening between top and lower performers.

And in eighth grade, there's a really worrying achievement gap that's been widening between top and lower performers.

And in eighth grade, there's a really worrying achievement gap that's been widening between top and lower performers.

How are kids doing in reading? Well, that may be the toughest news of all. In fourth and eighth grade, both reading scores continued to fall from 2022 to to 2024. And keep in mind, they'd already been falling from 2019 to 2022. The lowest performers in reading are actually scoring worse now than the lowest performers who took the test 30 years ago.

How are kids doing in reading? Well, that may be the toughest news of all. In fourth and eighth grade, both reading scores continued to fall from 2022 to to 2024. And keep in mind, they'd already been falling from 2019 to 2022. The lowest performers in reading are actually scoring worse now than the lowest performers who took the test 30 years ago.

How are kids doing in reading? Well, that may be the toughest news of all. In fourth and eighth grade, both reading scores continued to fall from 2022 to to 2024. And keep in mind, they'd already been falling from 2019 to 2022. The lowest performers in reading are actually scoring worse now than the lowest performers who took the test 30 years ago.

And remember how I said only one state had surpassed its pre-pandemic math scores? Well, it is the same in reading. In only one state are fourth graders doing better than they were in 2019, and that is Louisiana.

And remember how I said only one state had surpassed its pre-pandemic math scores? Well, it is the same in reading. In only one state are fourth graders doing better than they were in 2019, and that is Louisiana.

And remember how I said only one state had surpassed its pre-pandemic math scores? Well, it is the same in reading. In only one state are fourth graders doing better than they were in 2019, and that is Louisiana.

Yeah, so $190 billion. That is a lot of money. You're right. But several researchers told me, look... That money helped, just not enough. And part of the reason why is because Congress sent most of it directly to districts. They had a lot of freedom in spending it, and they were only required to spend a small fraction of it on learning loss.

Yeah, so $190 billion. That is a lot of money. You're right. But several researchers told me, look... That money helped, just not enough. And part of the reason why is because Congress sent most of it directly to districts. They had a lot of freedom in spending it, and they were only required to spend a small fraction of it on learning loss.

Yeah, so $190 billion. That is a lot of money. You're right. But several researchers told me, look... That money helped, just not enough. And part of the reason why is because Congress sent most of it directly to districts. They had a lot of freedom in spending it, and they were only required to spend a small fraction of it on learning loss.

I also want to say, though, these declines in math and reading, Steve, when you look big picture, they were made worse by the pandemic. But they actually started before COVID, around a decade ago. And researchers told me understanding why is going to be key to getting kids back on track.

I also want to say, though, these declines in math and reading, Steve, when you look big picture, they were made worse by the pandemic. But they actually started before COVID, around a decade ago. And researchers told me understanding why is going to be key to getting kids back on track.

I also want to say, though, these declines in math and reading, Steve, when you look big picture, they were made worse by the pandemic. But they actually started before COVID, around a decade ago. And researchers told me understanding why is going to be key to getting kids back on track.

This big report card, it's great for understanding where kids are struggling, but not why or what we can do about it.

This big report card, it's great for understanding where kids are struggling, but not why or what we can do about it.