Report Finds Most Schools Lag Pre-Pandemic Progress
Only one in ten students attends a district that has returned to 2019 performance levels in math and reading.
Updated on Oct. 24, 2026 in Primary Education
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The Center on Reinventing Public Education released its fifth annual report showing that the vast majority of U.S. school districts have yet to reach pre-pandemic academic achievement levels. Louisiana stands as the only state where students have surpassed 2019 math and reading scores.
Why it matters
The findings highlight an uneven academic recovery that could have long-term consequences for future workforce participation. Experts warn that students in the most severely impacted states face potential lifetime earnings declines of up to 9%.
Nationally, only one in ten students attends a district that has recovered to 2019 academic benchmarks. Researchers estimate lifetime earning losses ranging from 2% in the least-impacted states to 9% in the hardest-hit regions.
The players
Center on Reinventing Public Education
This research organization is dedicated to analyzing and improving public school systems through data-driven reporting.
The details
The report highlights a growing legislative focus on instruction, with 43 states now having passed science of reading laws and 18 states enacting new math instruction requirements. Notably, 13 of those 18 states with new math laws are Republican-leaning, and 12 states have updated teacher preparation policies.
Timeline
2019 served as the baseline year for pre-pandemic student achievement comparisons.
The fifth annual State of the American Student report was released in October 2026.
Culture Shift
This educational shift mirrors the widespread adoption of the science of reading laws across the United States. It marks a departure from legacy instructional models as states increasingly mandate specific pedagogical strategies to reverse pandemic-era achievement gaps.
Families in most states may see shifts in classroom instruction as school districts implement new mandated reading and math curricula. Parents should monitor local school board updates to understand how these state-level policy changes affect their own children's daily learning materials.
The takeaway
Academic recovery remains a significant challenge for the majority of school districts across the country. Families should focus on local district data to determine if their students are receiving the support needed to recover lost ground.
Further reading
For more on the current state of classrooms, visit the Primary Education section.
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Are local schools in your area effectively helping students recover from pandemic learning loss?
