Opinion: Why did Md. fall faster than anyplace else in the national report card?

Scores from the National Assessment of Educational Progress indicate what many in the nation have long predicted: student learning during the pandemic suffered across the country. The story is more concerning in Maryland, where the pandemic has capped a decade of precipitous decline since 2011. Declines in Maryland student achievement outpace most other states since 2011. In 4th grade reading and math, our progress since 2011 is the lowest in the nation, ranking 51st of 51 states and Washington, D.C., in both subjects. In 4th grade, math scale scores are down 18 points and reading scores down 19. In 8th grade, Maryland ranks tied for 51st in math and tied for 48th in reading. Eighth grade math scores are down 19 points and 8th grade reading is down 12 points.