Kids are in a ‘reading recession,’ as test scores continue to decline

Nbcwashington · May 13, 2026 · 1279 words · By Lily Altavena; Ruth Serven Smith; Jocelyn Gecker; Sharon Lurye; The Associated Press

Standardized Testing Trends Educational Recovery Science of Reading/Phonics

open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/national-international/reading-recession-test…

psychologyDetected Techniques

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Loaded Language 80% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

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Exaggeration / Hyperbole 70% confidence

Overstating facts or claims to create a stronger emotional response.

fact_checkFact-Check Results

19 claims extracted and verified against multiple sources including cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia.

schedule Pending 9

info Single Source 4

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verified Verified 3

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“Both reading and math scores have increased consistently over the past several years [in elementary schools in Modesto, California].”

SINGLE SOURCE

The claim is reported in the Nypost cross-reference, but the web search results provide general definitions of reading or advertisements for reading programs and do not provide specific data on Modesto elementary schools to corroborate the trend.

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web search NEUTRAL — Reading is the process of taking in the sense or meaning of symbols, often specifically those of a written language, by means of sight or touch. [1][2][3][4]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reading

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web search NEUTRAL — Reading.com helps your child learn to read with a proven, step-by-step program. Start today and watch your child become a confident reader.
https://www.reading.com/

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web search NEUTRAL — Reading Eggs is the online reading program that helps children learn to read. Hundreds of online reading lessons, phonics games and books for ages 2–13. Start your free trial!
https://readingeggs.com/

+ 1 more evidence source

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“Scholars at Harvard, Stanford and Dartmouth analyzed state test scores from third to eighth grade for over 5,000 school districts in 38 states”

CORROBORATED

The claim is reported by both the Nypost cross-reference and a specific web search result describing the 'reading recession' research involving Harvard, Stanford, and Dartmouth scholars analyzing 5,000 districts in 38 states.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — An AI boom is a period of rapid growth in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). The most recent boom started gradually in the late 2010s before seeing increased acceleration and media coverage in…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AI_boom

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Association of American Universities (AAU) is an organization of predominantly American research universities devoted to maintaining a strong system of academic research and education. Founded in …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Association_of_American_Univer…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Ivy League is an American collegiate athletic conference of eight private research universities in the Northeastern United States. It participates in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivy_League

+ 4 more evidence sources

verified

“Only five states plus the District of Columbia had meaningful growth in reading test scores from 2022 to 2025.”

VERIFIED

CNN explicitly reports that 'Only five states plus the District of Columbia had meaningful growth in reading test scores from 2022 to 2025' based on the research analysis.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic consisting of 50 states and a federal c…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Washington, D.C., officially the District of Columbia and commonly known as simply Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River a…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington,_D.C.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Government of the District of Columbia is the governmental structure of the U.S. federal district of the District of Columbia, as established by the Article One of the United States Constitution a…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_of_the_District_of_…

+ 3 more evidence sources

info

“Nationally, students remain nearly half a grade level behind pre-pandemic reading scores and only slightly better in math.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The provided web search results for this claim are irrelevant (dictionary definitions of the letter 'U' and airline tickets), providing no evidence to confirm or deny the claim.

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web search NEUTRAL — U (minuscule: u) is the twenty-first letter and the fifth vowel letter of the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet and the alphabets of other western European languages and others world…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U

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web search NEUTRAL — U is the on demand home of U&Dave, U&Drama, U&W & U&Yesterday. Stream thousands of hours of the best comedy, drama, entertainment & documentaries for free.
https://u.co.uk/

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web search NEUTRAL — Find the latest travel deals on flights, hotels and rental cars. Book airline tickets and MileagePlus award tickets to worldwide destinations.
https://www.united.com/

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“reading test scores have been falling since 2013 for eighth graders and 2015 for fourth graders, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress.”

CORROBORATED

The claim is found in the Nypost cross-reference and supported by web search results discussing NAEP (Nation's Report Card) declines in reading scores for 4th and 8th graders starting around 2013-2015.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Generation Alpha, often shortened to Gen Alpha, is the demographic cohort succeeding Generation Z and preceding the proposed Generation Beta. While researchers and popular media loosely identify the e…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generation_Alpha

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Adult literacy in the United States is assessed through national and international studies conducted by various government agencies and private research organizations. The most recent comprehensive da…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Literacy_in_the_United_States

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Reading is the process of taking in the sense or meaning of symbols, often specifically those of a written language, by means of sight or touch. For educators and researchers, reading is a multifacete…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reading

+ 4 more evidence sources

verified

“Almost every state in the analysis saw improvements in math test scores from 2022 to 2025.”

VERIFIED

WTOP News explicitly states that 'Almost every state in the analysis saw improvements in math test scores from 2022 to 2025.'

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 1931 Stanford football team represented Stanford University in the 1931 college football season. Their head coach was Pop Warner in his eighth season. The team played its home games at Stanford St…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1931_Stanford_Indians_football…

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+ 3 more evidence sources

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“Student absenteeism also declined in most states.”

CORROBORATED

Both CNN and NPR (referencing AEI data) report that student absenteeism declined in most states during the period discussed.

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web search NEUTRAL — Student absenteeism also declined in most states. In over 400 US school districts, including Modesto, reading or math growth outpaced demographically similar districts in the same state.
https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/13/us/reading-recession-students…

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web search NEUTRAL — From 2022-2023, chronic absenteeism declined in 33 of the 39 states AEI looked at. But it was still a persistent problem: In a handful of places, including Nevada, Washington, D.C., Michigan, New Mexi…
https://www.npr.org/2024/02/09/1228441120/covid-schools-stud…

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web search NEUTRAL — Absenteeism has been viewed as an indicator of poor individual performance, as well as a breach of an implicit contract between employee and employer. It is seen as a management problem, and framed in…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absenteeism

verified

“In over 400 U.S. school districts, including Modesto, reading or math growth outpaced demographically similar districts in the same state.”

VERIFIED

WTOP News confirms that 'In over 400 U.S. school districts, including Modesto, reading or math growth outpaced demographically similar districts in the same state.'

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — U.S. Route 50 or U.S. Highway 50 (US 50) is a major east–west route of the U.S. Highway system, stretching 3,019 miles (4,859 km) from Interstate 80 (I-80) in West Sacramento, California, to Maryland …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Route_50

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Boyett Petroleum is a family-owned, independent fuel supplier, distributor, and retailer based in Modesto, California. The company sells gas under the Boyett Petroleum, Cruisers and Kwik Serv brands, …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boyett_Petroleum

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Stanislaus County ( STAN-iss-law(ss); Spanish: Condado de Estanislao) is a county located in the San Joaquin Valley of the U.S. state of California. As of 2025, its estimated population is 557,719. …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanislaus_County,_California

+ 3 more evidence sources

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“Louisiana, Maryland, Tennessee, Kentucky and Indiana — all had one thing in common: They ordered schools to teach with a phonics-based approach known as the “ science of reading.””

SINGLE SOURCE

The claim is only present in the Nypost cross-reference; no other independent sources in the provided evidence confirm these specific mandates for these five states.

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cross reference SUPPORTS — Louisiana, Maryland, Tennessee, Kentucky and Indiana... ordered schools to teach with a phonics-based approach known as the “ science of reading.”
https://nypost.com/2026/05/13/lifestyle/kids-face-a-reading-…

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“Some states, including Florida, Arizona and Nebraska, changed parts of their reading instruction but still saw test scores fall.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The claim is only present in the Nypost cross-reference; no other independent sources in the provided evidence confirm the outcomes for Florida, Arizona, and Nebraska.

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cross reference SUPPORTS — Some states, including Florida, Arizona and Nebraska, changed parts of their reading instruction but still saw test scores fall.
https://nypost.com/2026/05/13/lifestyle/kids-face-a-reading-…

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“Schools [in Modesto] ramped up teacher training, paying educators $5,000 to complete an extensive “science of reading” program called LETRS, or Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling.”

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“Modesto’s test scores grew enough to represent an extra 18 weeks of learning in math and 13 weeks in reading.”

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“a 2016 lawsuit in which students argued they’d been denied the “right to read.” The lawsuit ended in a settlement of over $94 million”

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“student test scores [in Detroit] have grown faster than in similar urban districts in Michigan.”

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“Louisiana and Alabama were the only states where math scores were higher in 2025 than pre-pandemic.”

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“Louisiana is also the only state that beat its pre-pandemic average in reading, with 87% of traditional public school students attending a district where scores are higher than in 2019.”

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“Alabama had standout gains in reading following the pandemic, driven by a state law requiring every school to use phonics-based instruction.”

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“The state’s Numeracy Act standardized math instruction, required regular testing and mandated intervention for kids who lacked adequate math skills.”

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“Oxmoor Valley Elementary in Birmingham... made the state’s “failing” list in 2016”

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info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.

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Kids are in a ‘reading recession,’ as test scores continue to decline

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fact_checkFact-Check Results