National Drop in Student Scores Prompts Call for “Bold” Action from New Jersey Leaders
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, the latest results from a federal assessment have delivered a sobering message about the state of American education. Average math and reading scores for 12th-grade students have hit all-time lows, prompting U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon to call the results “devastating.”
While this particular report card from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) doesn’t include state-by-state data for New Jersey, local education advocates say the national trends are a clear sign that the Garden State must act “boldly” to keep its students competitive.
The “Devastating” Numbers: What the Report Card Reveals
Between 2019 and 2024, the average math and reading scores for 12th graders dropped by 3 points. When combined with earlier assessments, the data shows a decline across all grades and subjects tested—math, English, and science—for the first time ever. The only students who did not see a drop were those in the top 90th percentile.
Experts point to a mix of factors beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, including the pervasive influence of technology like smartphones, and a rise in chronic absenteeism. The National Assessment Governing Board also warned that even as more students get accepted into college, a lower percentage are likely to be ready for the academic demands of higher education.
For Paula White, Executive Director of JerseyCan, a local education advocacy group, these results are “disheartening.” She argues that students must be competent in core subjects to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving job market, especially with the rise of AI.
New Jersey’s Response: What’s Being Done?
The New Jersey Education Department noted in a statement that previous NAEP data shows the state’s students consistently score above the national average in both reading and math for grades 4 and 8. The department cited its focus on strengthening instruction through initiatives like expanding access to preschool and implementing the new New Jersey Literacy Framework.
However, White believes the state can do more. She is pushing for the newly established Office of Learning Equity and Academic Recovery to be “bold and clear” in its recommendations for literacy screeners and high-quality tutoring providers. She says this guidance would help school districts avoid the “trouble of researching and trying different products” on their own.
According to White, New Jersey also needs to revise its math standards and provide teachers with better training to help students meet the highest proficiency requirements. As the national conversation about education continues, advocates believe a proactive and strategic approach is what’s needed to ensure New Jersey students are prepared for the future.
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Send everyone home for 2 years with masks on their faces.
Do whatever the teachers union tells you to do.
Tiktok da IQ drop
This falls squarely in the laps of the Board of Education, our Superintendent, principals, and teachers ( and UNIONS). Get it fixed, now. Math and reading scores? The VERY basics, for goodness’ sake, since no one ‘writes’ any longer. Focus on the two.
Emphasis in public schools is social justice, feelings, and AI.
Reading and writing are secondary and assumed to be responsibilities of any outsourcing agency a family can find or afford.
“Why promote reading and writing when we can just tell you what to do and who to listen to!”
There’s a lot of cover-up with the board of Ed, nothing new
The kids are too busy doing sports all of the time. Maybe they should spend a bit more time with their studies with parental oversight.