Young kids missed the pandemic’s school disruptions. Their reading scores are still behind - AP News

Reading scores for young children who began school after pandemic-related disruptions persist below pre-pandemic levels, according to an analysis by the Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA). The study indicates that students in kindergarten through third grade, who did not experience remote learning or school closures, are still performing behind their 2019 counterparts in reading proficiency. This deficit suggests that educational recovery efforts have not yet fully addressed the foundational learning gaps for this demographic. The findings highlight an ongoing challenge for educators and policymakers in mitigating the long-term academic impact of the pandemic on early literacy.