Young kids missed pandemic school disruptions, but reading scores still lag

First and second graders continue to perform worse than pre-pandemic peers on reading tests, new report finds

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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A new report from NWEA shows that while math scores for first and second graders have slowly improved since the pandemic, reading scores have remained stagnant. Researchers say the academic disruption goes beyond just missed classroom time, with broader societal shifts like fewer parents reading to young children potentially playing a role. Some school districts are focusing more on phonics and regular literacy assessments to help students catch up, but experts say early childhood experiences outside of school that build literacy skills were also impacted by pandemic lockdowns.

Why it matters

The pandemic's impact on young students' academic performance, especially in reading, raises concerns about long-term effects on literacy development and educational outcomes. Understanding the systemic factors at play can help guide interventions to support the youngest learners who missed crucial early learning experiences.

The details

First and second graders continue to perform worse on reading tests compared to their pre-pandemic peers, according to a new report from the education assessment group NWEA. While math scores for these young students have slowly improved each year, reading scores have remained stagnant since the 2020-2021 school year. Researchers say the academic disruption goes beyond just missed classroom time, with broader societal shifts like fewer parents reading to young children potentially playing a role. Some school districts are focusing more on phonics instruction and regular literacy assessments to help students catch up, but experts say early childhood experiences outside of school that build literacy skills were also impacted by pandemic lockdowns, especially for low-income families.

  • The report is based on assessments given to students in the 2024-25 school year.
  • In 2024, reading scores for fourth- and eighth-graders continued a downward slide, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress.

The players

NWEA

An education assessment and research group that published the report on young students' academic performance.

Megan Kuhfeld

A researcher at NWEA who said "there's something kind of systemic here happening... within schools and outside of schools" when it comes to the youngest students' failure to recover academically.

Minnetonka Public Schools

A school district outside Minneapolis that says reading scores dipped during the pandemic but have since recovered, with a focus on phonics instruction and regular literacy assessments.

Amy LaDue

The associate superintendent of Minnetonka Public Schools, who believes young children missing out on activities like going to museums and playing with peers during the pandemic has continued to hamper literacy development, especially for low-income families.

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What they’re saying

“We can't pinpoint one specific cause.”

— Megan Kuhfeld, Researcher, NWEA (ksltv.com)

“These kids weren't in school when the pandemic happened, but (some) were ... in early childhood and preschool. Their opportunities ... to have those experiences outside of their home that build literacy skills and to apply them with peers probably were impacted because they were home.”

— Amy LaDue, Associate Superintendent, Minnetonka Public Schools (ksltv.com)

What’s next

Some states and cities are investing in pre-kindergarten programs to help young children with early literacy development, including California's introduction of universal pre-K and New York City's expansion of pre-K to 2-year-olds.

The takeaway

The pandemic's impact on young students' academic performance, especially in reading, highlights the need for comprehensive, long-term strategies to support early childhood learning and literacy development, both within schools and in the broader community.