Young students are still struggling to bounce back academically from the pandemic, even though many were babies at the time. In new data from research and testing company NWEA, first and second graders are scoring below kids pre-pandemic in math and reading. Math scores have risen a little each year. Reading scores have stayed flat. Researchers say the problem looks bigger than impacts from the pandemic. They point to emerging data that suggest parents are reading less to kids. Some districts say stronger phonics lessons and frequent check-ins help reading recover. And some states are expanding pre-K to boost early literacy.
A new California law is pushing for phonics-based reading instruction in elementary and middle school classrooms. The law provides training for school principals and reading specialists in the "science of reading," a method focused on vocabulary, comprehension and sounding out words rather than learning words by sight. The approach has led to improved reading scores in Mississippi, Louisiana and districts like Los Angeles Unified, which adopted it several years ago. The law also updates the state's list of textbooks, flash cards and other classroom reading materials to align with a phonics-based approach. The legislature passed the bill unanimously after it was made optional for schools to adopt phonics as a learning method.
