Math gaps narrowing, but reading scores remain stagnant, new research shows

Even as classrooms settle into post-pandemic rhythms, the question lingers: how far have students really come in catching up? A new national report from testing group NWEA offers a clearer — and more complicated — answer. Math scores are rising modestly, and long-standing gaps between student groups are beginning to narrow. But reading remains stuck, showing almost no recovery since 2021. Researchers say the difference hints at something deeper — that learning loss wasn’t just temporary, but a sign of lasting change in how students learn. Erica Meltzer with Chalkbeat has the full story.