The Learning Recession is Real — Here's What Parents Can Do About It

If your child has struggled more with reading or math in recent years, you are far from alone, and a major national study confirms it. At the Institute of Languages, Mathematics, and Sciences (ILMS), we closely follow new research in order to bring the most effective support to the students and families we serve. The latest report of the Education Scorecard, titled From Learning Recession to Learning Recovery, paints a sobering picture of where U.S. students stand today, but it also charts a clear path towards recovery.

WHAT THE RESEARCH SHOWS

The report shows that, since 2013, U.S. student achievement in reading and math has consistently declined, following nearly two and a half decades of gains from 1990 to 2013. Grade 8 reading scores today are at their lowest point since 1990, while Grade 4 scores have fallen back to pre-2003 levels. The report is unambiguous: this decline began before the pandemic and was worsened by it.

"The United States entered a 'learning recession' in 2013, as student progress in math and reading stalled and achievement began to decline." — Education Scorecard (May 2026)

Though math achievement rebounded post-pandemic, with annual rates returning to pre-2013 levels between 2022 and 2024, reading achievement continued to decline through 2024. Only in 2025 did researchers begin to spot signs of a reading turnaround, driven largely by those school districts that adopted evidence-based reading reforms.

Several factors, including district, income-level, and federal pandemic aid, have affected academic recovery rates. Middle-income districts — those not poor enough to receive significant federal relief, yet not wealthy enough to easily absorb the losses — remain among the hardest hit. However, the report finds that the most affecting factor is high student absenteeism. "If student absences had returned to pre-pandemic levels," the report estimates, "the recovery would have been meaningfully larger (.03 to .05 grade equivalents) for districts at all income levels."

Researchers also point to the rise of social media use as a likely contributor to the learning recession, before, during, and after the pandemic. Though some schools have attempted cell phone bans, studies have yet to determine their effectivity. Researchers note that social media may be doing its damage outside of school hours as well: displacing homework time, disrupting sleep, and weakening student focus.

WHAT PARENTS CAN DO RIGHT NOW

The good news is that improvement is possible, and it is happening in real communities right now! Of the hundreds studied, 108 districts showed large gains in both math and reading. These "districts on the rise" prove that students can recover lost ground with the right strategies. By learning from the research, parents can take actionable steps to improve student achievement:

1. Make attendance non-negotiable. The research is clear: chronic absenteeism is one of the biggest obstacles to recovery, and missed days compound over the course of a school year.

2. Investigate your child's reading curriculum. Ask your child's school whether they have adopted structured, phonics-based literacy instruction. If they have not, supplemental instruction at home or with a tutor can fill the gaps.

3. Take math seriously, even if scores look fine. National math averages may have bounced back, but averages can mask wide variations between districts and hide struggling students. Request your child's individual assessment data.

4. Limit social media, especially during the school week. The research shows that rising social media use is a likely contributor to the pre-pandemic decline in achievement.

5. Don't wait for the school to flag a problem. The report notes that the dismantling of test-based accountability has made pre-pandemic losses "harder to recognize." Proactively monitoring your child's progress, and acting early, matters more than ever.

At ILMS, our instructors specialize in exactly the kind of individualized, evidence-based instruction the research points to: structured reading programs, targeted math support, and consistent mentorship to help students build learning habits that last. Whether your child is catching up or pushing ahead, ILMS is here to help!

Contact us at (708) 581-8617 or ilms_office@ilmstutor.com or schedule a free consultation today to find out where your child stands and what we can accomplish together!

Source: From Learning Recession to Learning Recovery: Understanding the Sources of U.S. K-12 Improvement, Education Scorecard (May 2026).