U.S. children's reading skills reach new lows


By Xia Lin

NEW YORK, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- In the latest release of federal test scores, U.S. educators had hoped to see widespread recovery from the learning loss incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, but the results from last year's National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) showed a slide in reading skills.

The percentage of eighth graders who have "below basic" reading skills according to NAEP was the largest it has been in the exam's three-decade history: 33 percent. The percentage of fourth graders at "below basic" was the largest in 20 years, at 40 percent.

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Next In World

Salsa legend Willie Col�n dies at age 75, family says
French Alps 2030 organizers pledge high-quality Winter Games despite time, budget pressure
Feature: Sudanese refugees return from Uganda, weighing hope against uncertainty
Dutch speed skaters Bergsma, Groenewoud collect mass start golds at Milan-Cortina Games
Trump raises new global tariff from 10 pct to 15 pct
Olympic women's freeski halfpipe final rescheduled amid adverse weather (updated)
5 die of carbon monoxide poisoning in Russia's Vologda Region
France's Michelon storms to mass start gold as biathlon concludes at Milan-Cortina Games
Iranian students begin new university term with protests
Two aircraft collide on the ground at Schiphol airport, no injuries

Others Also Read