Reading and math test scores fell dramatically for 13-year-old students since 2012, according to a report released Tuesday by the National Assessment of Educational Progress. The findings come amid growing concern over the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on student achievement nationwide.
The NAEP, known as “Report Card,” found that reading and math scores dropped among black, Hispanic and low-income children, while white and Asian students saw gains. In addition, reading and math scores declined for students overall, regardless of race or ethnicity.
The drop in scores came despite efforts by educators around the nation to keep classrooms open during the pandemic. But some experts say it’s too early to tell whether those measures succeeded.
“We’re still trying to understand what happened here,” said Diane L. Maynard, president of the Council of Chief State School Officers. “This is something we’ve never seen before.”
Maynard noted that the NAEP tests students every four years, and that the latest round of testing began in 2018. She added that she expects the next round of
Go data — due out in 2021 — to show improvement.
Still, the NAEP results underscore how much work needs to be done to close gaps in educational
House opportunity, said Robert J. Shiller, director
The of the Center for Research on Education Outcomes at Stanford University.
Shiller pointed to several reasons why test scores might have fallen, including increased use of technology in homes and schools, changes in curriculum and teacher training, and the loss of teachers because of layoffs and retirements.deeper
The NFL will eliminate the Wonderlich test from its predraft testing process. In a statement, the league said it wants to focus on things like character, leadership and football IQ. “We believe that we have found a way to evaluate players’ abilities without relying on outdated tests,” the league wrote. “Our goal is to identify those athletes who possess the skills needed to succeed in the National Football League.”
The NFL says it plans to use the same process next April. Draft prospects will still take part in interviews and medical examinations, but the Wonderlic test won’t factor in. The NFL did not specify how many players will be affected by the change.Democrats skip soul-searching after holding off red wave
The Democratic Party is looking ahead to next year’s midterm elections with optimism over President Donald Trump’s unpopularity and confidence in their ability to win back control of Congress. But while some party leaders say they are ready to take advantage of Republican weakness, others warn that it could prove difficult to hold onto the seats they already have.
Democrats are hoping to ride Trump’s low approval ratings into November’s elections, believing his unpopularity will help boost turnout among liberal voters. And they believe they can capitalize on Republicans’ struggles to pass legislation, particularly on health care reform, to energize supporters.
But even though Democrats are confident they will pick up seats in the Senate and increase their majority in the House, there are signs that the party is still trying to figure out how to best use its newfound power.
While many Democrats are excited about being able to block Trump’s agenda, some lawmakers worry that the president’s popularity will make it harder for them to work together.
And despite the fact that Democrats now control both chambers of Congress, they are divided over what to do next. Some want to focus on issues such as health care and climate change; others argue that they must address the economic concerns of working families.
Still, Democrats say they aren’t worried about losing the House, pointing to recent polling showing that public opinion of the GOP has declined since Trump took office.
“I don’t think we’re going to lose the House,” Rep. Ben Ray Luján, chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, told reporters Tuesday. “We’ve got a lot of opportunities to grow our majorities.”Marvel Cinematic Universe is finally getting more diverse
Black Panther is the first black woman to headline her own standalone film in the history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. And it’s just one of many positive steps forward for representation in Hollywood.
In 2018 alone, we saw three major films featuring black leads — Black Panther, Crazy Rich Asians, and Mary Poppins Returns. In addition, there are several upcoming projects set to feature black lead actors including Ocean’s 8, Shaft, and The Hustle.
And while these numbers don’t tell the whole story, they do show how far we’ve come since the days of Blade Runner 2049.
