New Data Show Link Between School Closures, Plummeting Math Scores

Newly released data shows a correlation between plummeting nationwide academic performance and pandemic-driven school shutdowns.

Reduced access to full in-person instruction during the 2020-2021 school year was correlated with an average drop in math scores across most states, according to a regression analysis of the latest National Assessment of Educational Progress data conducted by economist and Brown professor Emily Oster.