Kevin Kiley: “we have just received the latest report on the performance of students across this country when it comes to math and…”

“we have just received the latest report on the performance of students across this country when it comes to math and reading and civics, and the results are absolutely alarming. We have seen now 12th grade math scores reach the lowest score ever reported, with 45 percent of students not even showing basic skills, the highest portion of students ever to fall below basic proficiency. Nearly half of the Nation's students can't even apply single-step percentages to solve real-world problems. Less than a quarter, only 22 percent, of 12th graders scored at or above proficient in math, down 2 points from 2019. The low scores are seen in these core subjects, and they are even below scores almost two decades earlier. The data shows that this trend has continued and was started even before COVID-19. In 2024, only a third of 12th graders were considered academically ready for entry-level college math work, down 4 percent since 2019. We see similar results in reading. Over 32 percent, the largest percentage ever, scored below proficient in reading. When we look at both math and reading, we are seeing the worst performance ever for students across this country.”