Examining Academic Equity Amidst the Pandemic: An Analysis of NAEP State and Urban District Results

• In Event: Appraising Equity in Education With The Nation’s Report Card and Beyond

Abstract

During the period from 2019 to 2022, we witnessed an unprecedented decline in student achievement measured by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). These declines were particularly notable among students at the 10th percentile, exacerbating existing educational disparities. To shed light on this, the authors analyzed the variations in achievement "lags" - defined as the score difference between the 90th and 10th percentiles in NAEP - across states and urban districts for all students and by race/ethnicity. By examining changes in mean scores and achievement "lags," we aim to identify states and urban districts that have demonstrated resilience in promoting academic equity despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, particularly among historically underserved racial and ethnic groups.

Authors

• Imer Arnautovic, Optimal Solutions Group

• Daniel Loew, Optimal Solutions Group

• Ebony Walton, U.S. Department of Education

• Enis Dogan, IES/National Center for Education Statistics

• Sadaf Asrar, Optimal Solutions Group