Educators' Perspective on Declining Achievement: What Teachers See That NAEP Scores Don't Show

This article was originally published on Study.com and can be viewed here: https://study.com/resources/educators-perspective-declining-achievement.html

While national assessments like the NAEP offer a snapshot of student performance, teachers see a more nuanced and concerning picture in their classrooms, one filled with complex challenges that scores alone cannot fully capture.

Recent NAEP results for Math and Reading reveal some worrying trends. While math scores have shown a bit of recovery since 2022, they're still below pre-pandemic levels. Reading scores, meanwhile, continue to decline.

NAEP provides valuable insights into how students are doing overall. However, they often miss the nuances of what's happening in individual classrooms. That's why Study.com conducted an exclusive teacher survey - to uncover what educators see firsthand in their classrooms that test scores alone can't capture.

2019 vs. 2024 - A Comparison of NAEP Scores

NAEP scores for 4th and 8th graders in Math and Reading reveal mixed trends between 2019 and 2024. While math scores show slight recovery, reading continues its steady decline, raising concerns among educators.

 Key Takeaways from NAEP Data

Reading Scores

• 4th grade:

  • 2024: 2 points drop from 2022, 5 points drop from 2019

  • Declines across all performance levels except the highest (90th percentile).

• 8th grade:

  • 2024: 2 points drop from 2022, 5 points drop from 2019

  • Middle- and lower-performing students saw the biggest drops.

Math Scores

• 4th grade:

  • 2024: 2 points drop from 2022, but still 3 points drop from 2019

  • Higher-performing students showed the most improvement.

• 8th grade:

  • 2024: No significant change from 2022, but 8 points drop from 2019

  • Scores increased for top performers but declined for lower-performing students.

What is Declining Achievement - What Educators Have to Say

Declining achievement refers to the widening gap between students' academic performance and grade-level expectations. But do these standardized test scores truly reflect the reality in classrooms?

To understand what these numbers mean in real classrooms, Study.com surveyed teachers nationwide. Their insights reveal that while most educators agree NAEP scores capture learning loss, a number of educators still believe the problem runs even deeper:

• English Teachers:

  • 47% say test scores accurately reflect learning loss.

  • 31% believe the situation is worse than the scores indicate.

  • 22% think test scores overstate the issue.

• Math Teachers:

  • 42% agree test scores provide an accurate picture.

  • 36% say learning loss is actually worse than the data suggests.

  • 22% believe it's not as severe as test scores indicate.

Potential Causes of Declining Achievement

What teachers say are the biggest challenges

• English Teachers:

  • 49% cite lack of parental prioritization of academics.

  • 38% point to mental health and social-emotional struggles.

  • 37% say students not completing homework or studying is a major factor.

• Math Teachers:

  • 49% also cite lack of parental prioritization as the top challenge.

  • 36% highlight low student engagement.

  • 35% say incomplete homework and lack of studying play a key role.

  • 32% report mental health and social-emotional struggles.

Key Insights & Connections

• Parental involvement matters: 49% of both English and math teachers identified a lack of family prioritization of academics as a top cause of student struggles, making it the most frequently cited challenge.

• Homework & engagement: Students who skip assignments often fall behind, making it harder to stay engaged.

• Mental health impact: 38% of English teachers and 32% of math teachers cited mental health and social-emotional struggles as key contributors to student learning gaps.

COVID-19 and Its Lasting Impact on Student Achievement

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated academic decline and widened existing achievement gaps. While recent NAEP scores show some signs of recovery in math, the data suggests that students are still struggling to regain lost ground.

According to the Harvard Education Recovery Scorecard (2024):

• Students lost the equivalent of several months of learning in both math and reading.

• Recovery has been uneven, with some districts making progress while others remain far behind pre-pandemic levels.

A Stanford Education study further highlights:

• Math recovery has been stronger than reading, but many students still lag behind.

• Lower-income districts experienced the biggest setbacks, widening achievement gaps.

What pre-pandemic and post-pandemic NAEP data tells us:

• 4th-grade math scores in 2024 improved slightly from 2022 but are still 3 points below 2019 levels.

• 8th-grade math scores remain 8 points lower than 2019, showing no significant progress since 2022.

• Reading scores have continued to decline, with both 4th and 8th graders scoring 5 points lower than in 2019.

How Teachers are Combating Declining Achievement

Teachers are implementing multiple strategies to enhance student learning, with technology playing a significant role.

• Almost 9 out 10 Math and English teacher use EdTech solutions.

• 81% of both English and math teachers feel confident using technology to enhance learning.

• Most effective EdTech tool:

  • Adaptive learning platforms - cited by 53% (English) and 50% (Math)

Other Innovative Solutions

Beyond technology, teachers are adopting hands-on strategies like parental engagement, extra tutoring, professional development, and adjusting grading policies to bridge learning gaps. These approaches, backed by studies from organizations like NY Kids and Smart Learning, provide long-term solutions for student success.

1. Adjusting Grading Policies to Support Struggling Students

To address learning gaps, many educators are modifying grading policies to provide students with more opportunities to succeed. Study.com's survey found that nearly 8 in 10 teachers have made adjustments, including:

• Extra credit opportunities: 44% (English), 40% (Math)

• More flexible deadlines: 42% (English), 37% (Math)

• Adjusting assignment weighting: 30% (English), 29% (Math)

2. Personalized instruction

• Diagnostic assessments: Teachers utilize diagnostic tools to identify individual student needs, allowing for tailored instruction that addresses specific learning gaps.

• Differentiated instruction: By adapting teaching methods and materials to cater to diverse learning styles and abilities, educators can more effectively reach each student.

Source: ny-kids

3. Extended learning opportunities

• Extra tutoring sessions: Offering additional tutoring outside regular class hours provides students with the chance to reinforce and master challenging concepts.

• Summer and after-school programs: These programs offer extended learning time, allowing students to catch up on missed content and strengthen their understanding.

Source: smartlearning

4. Professional development for educators

• Ongoing training: Teachers engage in continuous professional development to stay updated on effective instructional strategies and interventions.

• Collaborative learning communities: Participating in professional learning communities allows educators to share best practices and develop strategies to close achievement gaps.

Source: mobilemind

5. Trauma-Informed teaching

• Creating safe learning environments: Implementing trauma-informed practices helps in creating supportive classrooms that address students' emotional and psychological needs, which can impede learning.

• Building strong relationships: Fostering trust and understanding between teachers and students encourages engagement and participation, essential for academic success.

Source: betterlesson

6. Parental and community engagement

• Strengthening home-schools connections: Active collaboration between schools, families, and communities ensures a supportive network that reinforces the importance of education.

• Involving caregivers: Encouraging caregiver participation in the educational process has been shown to positively impact student achievement.

Source: learninga-z

Bridging the Gaps

NAEP scores and teacher insights confirm that declining achievement stems from multiple factors - parental disengagement, student motivation, and mental health struggles.

To address these challenges:

• Schools are strengthening communication and outreach to increase parental involvement.

• Educators are leveraging EdTech, tutoring, and personalized instruction to improve student engagement. Online platforms like Study.com provide tailored resources for subjects like English and Math, helping students reinforce key concepts outside the classroom.

• Trauma-informed teaching is fostering safer learning spaces to support student mental health.

But lasting progress requires more than classroom solutions-it calls for collaborative action from schools, policymakers, communities, and families. Sustained investment in resources, technology, and student support systems is essential. With the right support, every student can regain lost ground and thrive.

Methodology

The 'Learning Loss' survey was conducted online from January 23-24, 2025, and included 700 elementary and middle school teachers across the country. The age distribution of respondents was as follows: Generation Z made up 10%, Millennials accounted for 41%, Generation X represented 33%, and Baby Boomers comprised 15%.

In terms of ethnicity, the respondents were predominantly White (55%), followed by Hispanic (17%), Black or African American (14%), and Asian (9%). Smaller groups included American Indian or Alaska Native (1%).

Disclaimer: This blog post was originally published by Study.com and is shared here with their permission. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the original author and do not necessarily reflect the views of MobileMind.