Two full years back in the classroom since remote learning ended, state test scores at many school districts in California have made little progress in reversing the steep decline since the pandemic started in 2020. In the Grass Valley Elementary School District, English Language Arts scores were up about half-a-point last year, compared to the year before. But only 42-percent met or exceeded the state standard. It was only 33-percent for Math, but nearly a three-point improvement, while Science dropped by about a point, to 32-percent. Meanwhile, Superintendent Andrew Withers pointed out that there’s been even more progress if you go further back…

click to listen to Andrew Withers

The California Department of Education also mentions that given the relationship between student advantage and achievement, scores are particularly promising. That’s as the proportion of high-need students has also increased…

click to listen to Andrew Withers

Along with test scores, the state also released chronic absenteeism data. And it shows that nearly a-quarter of students fell in that category last school year, double the 12-percent rate in 2019.