Children currently in the 1st or 2nd grade are now lagging behind in reading and math. This is according to Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) research released March 3, 2026. This is mainly being attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic and the loss of essential learning time for this age group of students during their pre-school and daycare years.

The COVID-19 pandemic had a big impact on this year’s 1st and 2nd grade cohorts across the nation. But there are many other factors contributing to this shift. Children now are spending more and more time on screens and less time reading books for recreation. Schools are attempting to combat these deficits. Especially because this type of lagging tends to not be easy to make up.

The efforts to get students back on track is complicated. The NWEA report recommends that state and district leaders take into account what systematic conditions may be contributing to the stagnation in reading levels, how recovery efforts are addressing students who were not yet in K-12, and what is being implemented for math but not reading considering students who are recovering slightly in math but not in reading.

But there are challenges that schools are facing when it comes to funding and the ability to give this attention to meet all students where they are at. In the words of Megan Kuhfeld, Director of Data Analytics and Growth modeling at NWEA, “When a larger number of students are far below grade level, the number of students needing extra support grows and the ability to differentiate instruction becomes more challenging.” There are many adjustments to be made no matter the challenge it may be.