National Education Scorecard Shows Urgent Need for Action

Sept. 9, 2025
Contact: Lisa McKinney, Communications Director, The Prichard Committee
(cell) 859-475-7202
lisa@prichardcommittee.org

Prichard Committee Calls for Stronger Learning, Meaningful Diplomas, and Expanded Opportunity

LEXINGTON, Ky. — The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), known as the “Nation’s Report Card,” has released new data showing historic declines in student achievement across science, reading, and math. The results reveal urgent challenges facing America’s students — and Kentucky’s — at a time when preparation for a technology-driven economy has never been more important.

Nationwide, student performance is at the lowest levels ever recorded in key grades and subjects:

• Science (Grade 8): 31% proficient or above in 2024, down from 35% in 2019.
• Reading (Grade 12): 35% proficient or above — the lowest ever recorded since testing began in 2005.
• Math (Grade 12): 22% proficient or above — the lowest ever recorded since testing began in 1998.

Declines were especially severe for the lowest-performing students, though top students also lost ground.

“These results should galvanize us,” said Brigitte Blom, president and CEO of the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence. “If we want kids ready for the economy of the future, we need to accelerate learning in science, reading, and math — as well as durable skills like collaboration and leadership. These scores are a call to action for communities and families. We need all hands on deck.”

Notably, the report card also showed declines in interest and confidence in science-related activities among students.

A Diploma That Means More

The Prichard Committee stressed that Kentucky must ensure high school diplomas represent true readiness — not just completion.

“A diploma has to mean more than a piece of paper,” Blom said. “Too many Kentucky graduates walk across the stage without the skills and experiences they need to thrive in college, career, and life. That’s why our Meaningful Diploma work is so urgent.”

Kentucky’s high school graduation rate stands at 92.3%, yet significant gaps persist in academic readiness and workforce participation. A recent employer survey found that businesses across 20+ industries in Kentucky need graduates with durable skills, problem-solving ability, and work-based learning experiences.

By connecting schools and employers, the Prichard Committee’s Meaningful Diploma work ensures diplomas truly prepare students for success in today’s workforce.

Expanding Access to Advanced Coursework

Equity and rigor must go hand-in-hand, the Committee emphasized. Every Kentucky student deserves the chance to take on advanced coursework.

In the 2024 legislative session, the Prichard Committee, in partnership with Dr. Julia Roberts and Rep. Duvall of Bowling Green, secured passage of a bill expanding access to advanced classes. Implementation is now underway, beginning with a statewide Lunch & Learn session and a new working group focused on mathematics access.

“Expanding advanced coursework helps close excellence gaps, raise expectations, and make diplomas more meaningful,” Blom said. “When rigor and opportunity are available to every student, we lift the whole state.”

Research confirms the impact: opt-out enrollment policies significantly increase participation in advanced classes, boosting achievement and narrowing gaps for historically underserved students.

What Comes Next

The Prichard Committee outlined a roadmap for Kentucky’s response:

• Accelerate learning through tutoring, durable skills, and rigorous coursework.
• Support teachers with strong preparation, better working conditions, and solutions to shortages.
• Bring communities to the table through schools partnering with community members to address academic and non-academic barriers to learning.
• Strengthen transparency and engagement by ensuring families and communities play a central role in education decisions.
• Expand opportunity so every student can take advanced coursework and graduate with a diploma that truly opens doors.

“These results aren’t just numbers — they’re a reminder of what’s at stake for our kids and our state,” Blom said. “If families, schools, businesses, and communities come together, we can make sure every Kentucky student earns a diploma that is rigorous, relevant, and respected. That’s how we build a stronger future for Kentucky.”

The Prichard Committee believes in the power and promise of public education –early childhood through college– to ensure Kentuckians’ economic and social well-being. We are a citizen-led, non-partisan, solutions-focused nonprofit, established in 1983 with a singular mission of realizing a path to a larger life for Kentuckians with education at the core.