By Dr. Megan Kuhfeld and Dr. Karyn Lewis
When COVID-19 shuttered schools, middle schoolers in the U.S. were just building foundational literacy skills. The sudden shift to remote learning in 2020 during these students’ early elementary years disrupted instruction in a critical window for developing reading fluency and comprehension. While we continue to understand and measure this disruption, more and more evidence is confirming that students, even five years later, are still a long way off from rebounding academically.
Data Speaks
Looking at data from various sources, math shows signs of modest recovery, but at this slow rate of progress, full recovery could still be at least seven years for students. In contrast, reading presents a more concerning picture. Across nearly every data source, reading performance has continued to decline from 2022 to 2024. This reveals troubling trends that signal persistent challenges in literacy recovery. And one age group is particularly concerning—middle schoolers.
According to data from The Nation’s Report Card, less than one third of 8th graders are at or above proficiency levels in reading. Additionally, a 2024 report from NWEA further underscored the issue; middle school students are facing the greatest challenges with regaining ground in reading.
The average student needs the equivalent of about eight additional months of instruction to catch up. This kind of progress is especially difficult to achieve in middle school where time is short and the instructional focus often shifts away from foundational literacy, making the road to recovery steep and complex. However, an intentional and sustained approach can meet this challenge.
1. Prioritize targeted academic supports in reading
Ensure that high-dosage tutoring, summer programs, and other intensive interventions become permanent elements of your academic offerings. These strategies provide students with the additional instructional time needed to close gaps—but only if students are present to benefit from them. As such, academic supports should be paired with strategies to reduce chronic absenteeism, which continues to affect millions of students.
2. Focus on students who were already teetering on the edge
The pandemic was not an equal opportunity hitter. Achievement disparities that predate COVID-19 have been starkly exacerbated over the last five years. Moreover, marginalized students remain the furthest from recovery. Leveraging your data can ensure you’re targeting support to students who are struggling the most to recover.
3. Equip all teachers to support reading development
Middle school teachers may not have been trained to diagnose or remediate reading difficulties—yet that is exactly what many students need now. Provide professional learning and tools to help all teachers recognize reading challenges and deliver targeted support.
While much focus has been on the negative effects of the disruptions, one clear lesson has emerged—the vital and enduring role of teachers. Long before the pandemic, teachers were a steady and necessary presence in students’ lives. But during a time of unprecedented uncertainty, that role became even more essential.
Teachers provide consistency, build relationships, and adapt to meet individual needs, both academically and emotionally. Now more than ever, we must ensure that they have the necessary resources and support to engage with students effectively and drive academic growth and opportunities, especially in reading. The expertise, compassion, and flexibility of teachers will continue to be key in shaping the future of education.
Dr. Megan Kuhfeld is the Director of Growth Modeling and Data Analytics for NWEA.
Dr. Karyn Lewis is Vice President of Research and Policy Partnerships for NWEA.
