LINCOLN- According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress that was released this week, Nebraska and the rest of the nation declined in math and reading proficiency over the pandemic.

Nebraska’s eighth-grade math score was the lowest since 2000. Its fourth-grade math score was the lowest since 2011.

And in reading, fourth and eighth-grade scores were the lowest since 2002.

These disappointing results can be remedied by looking at the rest of the nation.

Nebraska's fourth-grade math score was seven points higher than the rest of the nation. For eighth graders, the math score came in six points above the national average.

In reading, Nebraska’s average score for fourth grade was 3 points higher than the national average. In eighth grade, both Nebraska and the nation had an average score of 259.

When comparing it to pre-pandemic levels, Nebraska slid backward in progress, but still less than the majority of the nation. Nationally, the declines in math scores were the largest since NAEP assessments began in 1990.

Nebraska Commissioner of Education Matt Blomstedt said it’s reasonable to think that getting Nebraska kids back into classrooms during the pandemic kept scores from falling further.

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