ExcelinEd Chairman and 43rd Florida Gov. Jeb Bush issued the following statement on the 2024 NAEP scores release:
The newly released National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), commonly known as the Nation’s Report Card, reveals continued setbacks in reading achievement for both fourth and eighth graders—not only compared to 2019 levels but also compared to the last assessment in 2022. In math, scores remained stagnant for eighth graders and saw a modest uptick for fourth graders, though those gains were largely concentrated among higher-performing students.
Amid these national challenges, some states are proving that meaningful progress is possible. Louisiana, Mississippi, Indiana, South Carolina and Tennessee have prioritized evidence-based reading instruction, strong accountability systems and high academic standards—leading to encouraging results.
“Every two years, the Nation’s Report Card provides an accurate look at how our students are performing in reading and math across the states. Today’s results reaffirm the critical role National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) plays as the gold standard for measuring student achievement.
“At a time when some states are lowering expectations on their own assessments or rolling back school accountability measures, NAEP is a consistent, rigorous and objective measure of student performance. It shines a spotlight on where we are succeeding and where urgent action is needed to close learning gaps and ensure every student receives the high-quality education they deserve.
“NAEP is not just a test—it’s an essential tool for policymakers, educators and families. Without its clear, comparable data, states would be left in the dark, unable to identify trends, adopt proven strategies or hold their own education systems accountable for preparing students for earned success.
“The results released today underscore the urgent need to remain strong on high standards, effective accountability systems and data-driven policies that put students first. Rather than dismissing this critical measure or blaming external factors, we must embrace the challenge and commit to solutions that drive real, lasting improvement in student outcomes.
“As states review this year’s results, I hope policymakers will take this opportunity to learn from those that are raising the bar and delivering results for their students. The future of our children—and our nation—depends on it.”
GET THE FACTS
NAEP is the only assessment that provides uniform student performance data that can be compared across all states.
National Public Grade 4 NAEP Reading scores decreased by 2 points from 216 in 2022 to 214 in 2024.
National Public Grade 8 NAEP Reading scores decreased by 2 points from 259 in 2022 to 257 in 2024.
National Public Grade 4 NAEP Math scores increased by 2 points from 235 in 2022 to 237 in 2024.
National Public Grade 8 NAEP Math scores decreased by 1 point from 273 in 2022 to 272 in 2024.
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