In the latest results published last month, the NAEP found that 31% of fourth graders and 30% of eighth graders nationally were reading proficiently in 2024. That was down 2% and 1% from the last exam in 2022, respectively, and a 10-point drop from 2019.
Several nonprofit academic research companies claimed the cuts went much deeper and could prevent the department’s National Center for Education Statistics from gathering essential information for families and policymakers.