A Welcome Turn for U.S. Reading as New NWEA Report Shows Positive Trends

Findings highlight that almost a third of the remaining pandemic reading gap was erased in just one year  

BOSTON, Sept. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- NWEA, a K-12 assessment and research organization, today released its latest Trend Snapshots report, which uses data from the MAP Growth National Dashboard to examine reading and math test scores for students in grades K-8 from Spring 2017 through Spring 2026. This latest report specifically focuses on test score shifts from Spring 2025 to Spring 2026.

Key findings show:

• After a long period of post-COVID stagnation in reading test scores, MAP Growth reading data showed sizable improvements between 2025 and 2026 across kindergarten through eighth grade.  
• Historically underserved groups showed some of the largest reading gains from 2025 to 2026. 
• Math achievement continued to show incremental progress towards recovery in kindergarten to fifth grade, but stagnation in the middle school grades.  

"After several years of MAP Growth national data showing a widening gap and uneven academic recovery from the pandemic's disruptions to learning, we have promising signs of progress," said Dr. Karyn Lewis, Vice President of Research and Policy Partnerships at NWEA. "Reading scores in 2026 give us hope as improvements were across grades and student groups."

The report also provided trends in math, which had steady recovery in the elementary grades but mixed progress at the middle school grades, where test scores stagnated across most student groups between 2025 and 2026.

"These results must be treated with caution. While this is progress, we can't lose sight of the full scale of unfinished learning that still needs to be addressed," added Lewis. "Reading scores in most grades still remain below pre-pandemic levels, and persistent gaps by race/ethnicity and school poverty level are not gone. Recovery will require sustained attention and interventions for  students who were furthest from opportunity before and after the pandemic."

Beyond trends, the report provided two points of action for education leaders:

1. Examine what's driving reading gains: Identify where students are improving and study the practices, policies, and investments that may be contributing to that progress.
2. Continue building coherent literacy systems: Sustain effective early literacy reforms while strengthening the supports for both upper elementary and middle school students, including assessment, instruction, intervention, and professional learning for educators.

Read the full research brief: https://www.nwea.org/research/publication/turning-a-corner-on-reading-map-growth-data-shows-reading-improvements-after-period-of-post-covid-stagnation/ 

About NWEA

NWEA®, a division of HMH, supports educators worldwide by providing responsive, evidence-based assessment solutions that illuminate learning needs and fuel student growth. For more than 40 years, NWEA has developed innovative pre-K–12 assessments, including its flagship assessment – MAP Growth, and professional learning that helps educators strengthen their practice and improve student outcomes. As part of its commitment to bring valuable insights to the education community, NWEA engages in research that examines issues that shed light on inequities and other barriers to academic opportunities. Visit NWEA.org to find out how NWEA partners to help all kids learn.

Contact: Simona Beattie, Communications Director, [email protected] or 971.361.9526

SOURCE NWEA