Arrington Responds to Pandemic-Prompted Historic Decline in Academic Achievement

Monday I released the following statement in response to the release of the Nation’s Report Card data, showing a historic decline in student achievement, specifically in math and reading.

The numbers speak for themselves. Teachers’ unions and Democrat leaders get an ‘F’ for failing to open their schools, which has wiped away two decades of academic improvement. We are now not only seeing the lowest average ACT scores in decades but also a devastating decrease in early reading and math scores. Republicans are committed to empowering parents and putting students’ interest first.

 Background on the Nation’s Report Card

The biennial Nation’s Report Card for 2022 revealed historic declines in early math and reading scores.

• The nation’s average math score for fourth graders fell by five points since 2019. 

• Eighth graders’ national average math score dropped by eight points. 

• Average reading scores for both grades fell by three points.