Pennsylvania education assessment scores regress in COVID-19 pandemic era

(The Center Square) – Evidence of learning setbacks during the COVID-19 pandemic era for Pennsylvania students is reflected in Monday’s release of the state assessment scores.

In both reading and math, respective students in grades 3-8 had fewer proficient and above scores, were marginal in relation to mastering the basics, and had increases – some significantly so – for percentage of students below the basic level.

Students are measured in reading, math, science and writing in the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment tests. Billed as a judgment by the Department of Education against “Pennsylvania’s world-class academic standards,” the strengths and weaknesses of students’ achievement scores is made available to parents, educators and administrators.

Compared to the 2019 report, the last prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the statistics in the 2022 analysis are not encouraging. Pennsylvania has experienced shifts away from traditional public schools since the pandemic began, according to a report from the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools.

At each of the 3-8 grade levels, performances in math were worse than in English language arts.

Among the worst was that 13% more students were below basic in sixth-grade math and 10.7% below basic in eighth-grade math. The smallest decline in below basic math was fourth grade (4.8%). Those achieving basic ranged from 4% better in seventh grade to a decline of 1.8% for third grade.

Those excelling in math regressed. Seventh graders had the biggest drop in proficient or above, by 11.2%, and fourth graders had the smallest decline at 3.9%. In 2019 scores, third grade had the most proficient or above (56%) and the 2022 scores dropped by 8.3% to 47.7%. The eighth graders, with a 9.6% decline, fell to only 22.6% proficient or above in the subject matter.

Reading had similar metrics to math. The basic level had marginal changes, from 4.3% better scores for sixth grade to a drop of 3.1% in fifth grade. A higher percentage were below basic in every grade level, including declines of 8.3% in fourth grade, 8.1% in fifth grade, and 6.5% in third grade.

Four of the six grade levels in 2019 hit 60.4% or higher for proficiency or above. The best grade level of those, fourth at 63.6%, dropped the most in 2022, tumbling 11.4% to 52.2%. Third grade had a 9.6% decline to 52.3%. Seventh grade, at 57.2% following a 3.2% decline, had the highest percentage proficient and above.

Access the full report, and previous years reports here.