This article is one of a series of articles produced by Word in Black through support provided by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. Word In Black is a collaborative of 10 Black-owned media outlets across the country.
By Aaron Allen, The Seattle Medium
Washington state students are still working to recover from the significant academic setbacks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. While some progress has been made, achievement gaps remain stagnant—or in some cases, are worsening—according to the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP).
Despite the concerning data, state officials insist that academic recovery is moving in the right direction. The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) responded to the NAEP findings, questioning the report’s methodology and emphasizing that Washington’s test scores have been trending upward over the past two years.
“At a high level, we appreciate that this report focuses on outcomes and access, and we also have questions about some of the methodology,” an OSPI spokesperson said in a statement.
“National reports like this one can sometimes overlook key differences in states’ data collections and definitions, leading to comparisons across states that are portrayed as apples-to-apples but actually aren’t. Further, test scores in Washington have been trending upwards for the past two years.”
According to the NAEP data, Washington’s 4th and 8th grade students are performing on par or slightly above the national average in both math and reading. However, like most other states, Washington’s scores remain below pre-pandemic levels, indicating that full academic recovery is still a work in progress.
Certain academic benchmarks—such as 4th grade reading and 8th grade math scores—are widely recognized as predictors of a student’s likelihood to graduate high school, attend college, and achieve competitive earnings in adulthood. Washington showed slight improvement in 4th grade math, where the average score rose three points from 2022. However, this still remains two points below 2019 levels, before the pandemic disrupted education nationwide.
The 8th grade math situation is more concerning, with scores still 12 points lower than in 2019.
Reading scores have also taken a hit:
• 8th grade reading scores are down seven points since 2019.
• 4th grade reading scores have declined by four points over the same period.
While acknowledging these challenges, OSPI remains optimistic about the state’s trajectory. The agency recently published data from spring 2024 state assessments, which suggest that students are making notable gains in math, while literacy recovery continues to require additional attention.
“We often see the results of these tests being miscommunicated to mean something that they don’t,” said State Superintendent Chris Reykdal.
He explained that state assessments are not simply pass/fail exams, nor do they necessarily indicate that students who do not meet college-readiness standards are below grade level.
“The tests measure a student’s knowledge and skills along a continuum of complexity,” Reykdal said.
Washington’s state assessments categorize student achievement into four levels:
• Level 1: Below grade-level knowledge and skills.
• Level 2: Foundational grade-level knowledge and skills.
• Level 3: On track for college-level learning without remedial courses.
• Level 4: Advanced proficiency.
According to OSPI, most Washington students are scoring within Levels 2, 3, or 4, meaning they are developing the skills needed for academic success, even if some still require additional support.
While Washington’s scores mirror national trends, state officials emphasize that students continue to perform as well or better than their peers nationwide. The NAEP report notes that Washington students are holding steady relative to other states, despite the ongoing national struggle to regain lost academic ground.
However, education experts caution against relying solely on national comparisons, arguing that recovery should be measured by whether students are reaching pre-pandemic proficiency levels rather than just how Washington compares to other states.
As part of his 2025 budget proposal, Reykdal is requesting funding for an artificial intelligence (AI) reading tool designed to help students improve literacy skills.
The tool would allow students to practice reading aloud and receive instant, individualized feedback on pronunciation, fluency, and comprehension. Teachers would gain real-time insights into student progress, enabling them to quickly identify those who need additional support.
Reykdal believes this approach could be a major step toward improving early literacy, particularly for students still struggling to
catch up from pandemic learning loss.
At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in fall 2021, student test scores in Washington dropped significantly, mirroring the national trend of declining academic performance. In some cases, scores fell by several percentage points over just one academic year.
Since 2022, state assessments have shown signs of improvement, with steady gains in math performance. However, reading and literacy continue to lag behind, indicating that additional targeted efforts are necessary.
Despite setbacks, officials remain focused on long-term solutions to ensure all students receive the support they need.
“These trends in reading and mathematics are occurring across the nation, but in Washington, we can be different,” Reykdal said.
“Literacy and mathematics are the foundational building blocks for future learning across all content areas, and we are doubling down on our focus on early literacy in particular.”
