Federal assessments show reading and math performance drop in Florida, nation

Florida middle schoolers’ math and reading scores continue a decline that preceded the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Department of Education data released in January show. The data are not a fluke, as Education Commissioner Manny Diaz suggests, according to test administrators. 

Reading scores among eighth graders dropped in the last four iterations of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) by the U.S. Department of Education in 2017, 2019, 2022, and 2024.

Math scores among eighth graders dropped in the last three iterations in 2019, 2022, and 2024. 

Eighth graders ranked in the bottom 10 states in reading and math scores, posting their lowest scores since 1998 and 1996, respectively. 

Fourth graders improved their math scores in 2024, yet the results remain below pre-pandemic numbers. Reading scores for fourth graders decreased to their lowest level since 2003. 

Florida was the second highest performing state in fourth grade math, behind Massachusetts, and the 10th highest state in reading. 

The nationwide data collected in early 2024 showed reading scores declined for both grades, while math increased for fourth graders and made no significant change for eighth graders. National scores remain below pre-pandemic levels in all tested grades and subjects, NAEP found. 

Marty West, an education professor at Harvard and vice chair of the NAEP executive committee, believes the reasons for declining reading scores are likely found outside of school.

“As I look at the more recent trends, I think it obviously comes to mind that we should be looking at what social media and the rise of the screen-based childhood is doing for reading habits and reading skills,” West said during a panel discussion in Washington, D.C., recapping NAEP results.

“We know from NAEP data there’s been a sharp decline in the share of students who report reading frequently outside of school for fun. … But I’m intrigued by the screens hypothesis because I could actually imagine it being something that creates both declines at the bottom and at the same time accelerates students at the top, because screens can be a remarkable source of enrichment if you know how to use them right.”

Nationally, NAEP reported that absenteeism “remains a problem.” Students still miss school days at a rate higher than before the pandemic, although attendance is up compared to the 2022 report.

The congressionally mandated NAEP, also known as the Nation’s Report Card, has been administered since 1969.

“The Nation’s Report Card is the only common yardstick to measure how U.S. students are doing. The results are essential to understand what students have learned and the road ahead for the schools and communities that serve them,” Martin West, vice chair of the NAEP governing board, said in a news release.

Diaz dissents

Diaz wrote a letter to the U.S. Department of Education after the scores were released, criticizing the assessment’s methodology, saying it “fails to account for Florida’s educational landscape and I respectfully request that these shortcomings are addressed in future administrations of the exam.”

“In years past, this assessment has been the gold standard for states to compare their students to other states, allowing our state departments of education to adjust education policies to boost student achievement,” Diaz said in a letter to Acting Secretary Denise Carter. 

Diaz offered “suggestions to help make NAEP great for educational progress once again,” including letting private schools participate in the assessment. 

“The number of families pursuing the choice options that work best for them is growing fast and its one of our proudest achievements in Florida. Most importantly, these numbers represent the most engaged families and students our state has, yet NAEP results are only comprised of public school students,” Diaz wrote, mentioning that 524,000 students in Florida receive a school choice scholarship for private school or home school.

“It is incongruous that NAEP purports to grade the state of Florida while leaving such a huge portion of our students out of the sample,” Diaz concluded.

West addressed Diaz’s concerns during the discussion in Washington.

“Florida is a state that, according to the NAEP data, suffered some further declines between 2022 and 2024 in three of the assessments that we released results for today and so it’s not surprising that they would want to ask questions about the validity of the results,” West said. 

West said the U.S. Department of Education would “love” to include private schools in the results but cannot because not enough agree to participate.

Diaz argued the assessment disproportionately included urban areas and underperforming schools.

West argued the selection of schools must be agreed upon by each state’s education department. Florida did sign off on the selected schools, according to West. 

“So, it’s a little surprising to hear them raising questions about it after the fact,” West said. 

Diaz suggested that a new computer and internet format deployed for the 2024 assessment could have affected the comparability of the results to earlier years. Peggy Carr, commissioner of the center administering the NAEP, said changes to the delivery were done in a “scientifically defensible way” and that it had no effect on the results.

Diaz added at the end of his letter that he supports the GOP push to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education and that “Florida stands ready to assist” the federal department. 

Education association blames policy

The Florida Education Association called Florida’s results “long-term consequences of underinvestment, overburdened educators, and bad policies that fail to support students equitably.”

“This should be a wake-up call: Florida’s students deserve real investment in their neighborhood public schools — now,” the teachers’ union said in a news release. “It’s time to take immediate action and that starts with fully funding public education, ensuring fair wages for educators, and keeping politics out of the classroom. Our students’ futures depend on it.”

Progress monitoring positive

The Florida Department of Education reported last month that its mid-year monitoring showed fourth and eighth grade reading improvement from the previous school year. 

The mid-year monitoring is gathered through the Florida Assessment of Student Thinking, a test administered by the state three times a year to monitor progress. 

The department reported that eighth grade students increased their math performance from the previous school year, and fourth grade students improved over assessments taken earlier this school year. 

“Florida’s students continue to succeed at every level,” Diaz said in a news release. “Progress monitoring provides students with faster interventions leading to better results.