ESG Statement on the 2022 NAEP Results

Today’s release of NAEP results from 4th and 8th grade reading and mathematics brings the impact of the pandemic on K-12 learning into sharp, quantifiable focus. The overall drop in scores—particularly in mathematics—and the widening of score gaps between racial groups in certain instances illustrate the widespread damage done to years of hard-won gains for educational excellence and equity.

Although today’s 4th and 8th grade results may prompt leaders to focus their efforts only on the early and middle grades, we believe it is equally important to focus on how we are going to catch this generation of students up in high school so they can graduate prepared for college and careers. That means doubling down on the commitment that many local, state, and national leaders have made to build stronger pathways for students involving partnerships between high schools, colleges, and employers.

Today’s NAEP data shows us that many students are arriving in high school much further behind where they need to be, making it clear how much more work is needed to ensure that those students don’t face dead ends when they leave high school. Committing to this work means prioritizing efforts to help students achieve the milestones we know best prepare and launch them for success after graduation. Those include participating in high-quality career pathway opportunities; taking advanced courses like dual enrollment and AP; engaging in quality work-based learning experiences; and applying to postsecondary programs and securing financial aid.

We know that given the impact of the pandemic, students will need extra academic and advising support to help them reach these milestones; it is imperative that we provide it for them. Understanding where and how to provide the right support means paying close attention to the most predictive measures of student success. Leaders who prioritize collecting and leveraging data on such metrics as 9th grade on-track, advanced coursework potential and participation, FAFSA completion, and seamless postsecondary enrollment have a stronger sense of whether their students are on a trajectory toward success and if not, where they can most effectively intervene. That information will be particularly crucial in helping pandemic-impacted students reach success.

We urge K-12, higher education, workforce, and community leaders across the country to rally together to build stronger pathways that will help every student reach a brighter, more equitable, more prosperous future.