A groundbreaking study from Harvard University and Stanford University has revealed that the state is at the forefront of academic recovery in the United States. According to the Education Recovery Scorecard and this news release from the Louisiana Department of Education, Louisiana ranks first in the country for reading recovery and second for math. Notably, Louisiana Education stands as the only state where the average student has fully completed their academic recovery.
The Education Recovery Scorecard is an annual report that measures student growth in reading and mathematics at the school system level across the country. Now in its third year, the report assesses the pace of academic recovery in various districts, providing crucial insights into how students are regaining learning losses experienced during the pandemic.
Louisiana’s impressive academic turnaround is reflected in several critical findings from the Education Recovery Scorecard. Between 2019 and 2024, the state ranked first in reading recovery and second in math recovery. While many states struggled to regain lost academic ground, Louisiana students demonstrated significant gains in both reading and mathematics, standing out as the only state where the average student has fully recovered academically.
An analysis of the data suggests that Louisiana’s strategic allocation of pandemic-related funding played a key role in its success. Investments targeted at academic initiatives such as summer learning programs and tutoring proved particularly effective in accelerating recovery. However, despite these achievements, chronic absenteeism remains a significant challenge. Students who miss more than 10 percent of the school year hinder the progress of overall recovery efforts in several districts, emphasizing the need for continued attention to attendance and student engagement.
State education leaders attribute Louisiana’s progress to a clear focus on foundational academic skills and strong support for educators. Louisiana State Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley emphasized that the report reflects the state’s commitment to improving student outcomes. He acknowledged the progress but also pointed out that challenges remain, particularly in ensuring that all students can read at grade level, master essential math skills, and maintain consistent school attendance.
The Education Recovery Scorecard serves as a collaborative effort between the Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard University and the Educational Opportunity Project at Stanford University. This latest report provides a detailed and data-driven analysis of where Louisiana students stand in their academic recovery as of spring 2024. Unlike The Nation’s Report Card, which focuses on state-level achievement changes, the Education Recovery Scorecard integrates those results with district-level assessments to provide a more localized view of student progress.
The state’s recent achievements build on its positive performance in the previous year’s Education Recovery Scorecard. The 2023 report highlighted Louisiana as one of only three states where reading achievement had surpassed 2019 levels. Additionally, Louisiana students made exceptional progress in math, recovering nearly half of their initial learning loss. This was particularly notable because, on a national scale, students had only managed to regain about one-third of their original losses.
Although Louisiana has demonstrated remarkable success in academic recovery, state education officials acknowledge that there is still work to be done. The persistence of chronic absenteeism remains a barrier to continued progress, and ensuring that all students achieve proficiency in reading and math is an ongoing challenge. Nevertheless, the strategic initiatives that have contributed to Louisiana’s success—including targeted funding, summer learning opportunities, and tutoring programs—may serve as a model for other states striving to accelerate their own academic recovery efforts.
By focusing on student-centered interventions and maintaining strong support for educators, Louisiana has emerged as a leader in the nation’s education recovery landscape. As the state continues to build on its progress, it sets an example for how deliberate investment and evidence-based strategies can drive meaningful improvements in student learning outcomes.
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