White House Note Stressed NAEP Concerns and a Push for Better Result

When the latest National Report Card landed, the White House didn’t waste time. A public note issued on September 9, 2025, spelled it out plainly: the country needs better results, and soon.

Citing fresh data from the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), the administration highlighted a troubling reality. Too many students are struggling in reading, math, and science.

Gaps are widening, and absenteeism is rising. Federal officials, education leaders, and policymakers are now debating what can actually turn the tide.

Let’s see what the White House flagged, what NAEP shows in detail, and which strategies have the strongest evidence to improve outcomes.

Key Points

What the White House Said

The White House note condensed the 2024 NAEP results into three sharp headline stats:

The message framed the scores as proof that the education system needs big changes, with more authority shifted to states and families.

The note stressed that NAEP serves as the nation’s common yardstick, and when the numbers show deep concern, governors, district leaders, unions, and parents all take notice.

What NAEP 2024 Actually Found

NAEP is run by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and overseen by the National Assessment Governing Board (NAGB).

The 2024 cycle focused on grade 12 reading and math, plus grade 8 science. Results were sobering across the board, according to the NAEP Report Card:

Grade 12 Reading

• National average scores fell 3 points since 2019, and are now 10 points below 1992 levels.
• More students scored below Basic, and fewer reached Proficient.
• Female students at the 25th and 75th percentiles saw notable declines.
• Absenteeism is higher than in 2019, adding another layer of concern.

Sample: 24,300 12th graders from 1,500 schools, tested between January–March 2024.

Grade 12 Mathematics

• Scores fell 3 points from 2019, reaching the lowest level since the test framework began in 2005.
• Drops were broad-based, with the 90th percentile the only group not slipping.
• The percentage at or above Proficient declined, while below Basic grew.
• Absenteeism trends again stood out.

Sample: 19,300 12th graders from 1,500 schools, same testing window.

Grade 8 Science

• Just 31% of eighth graders reached Proficient or above.
• NAGB flagged slippage and widening gaps, with lower-performing students falling further behind.

Five Fast Truths Everyone Should Know

Federal Push and Political Framing

The White House

The administration’s note linked poor NAEP results to the case for giving states and families more say in how education is structured and funded.

U.S. Department of Education

On January 29, 2025, and again on September 9, 2025, the department called the results “historic lows.”

Officials emphasized the urgency of effective instruction, measurable outcomes, and interventions that move the needle. Nearly half of high school seniors scored below Basic in math and reading.

NAGB and NCES

NAGB’s “10 takeaways” painted a mixed picture: limited recovery in grade 4 math, flat results elsewhere, and widening gaps. The conclusion was clear: what’s needed are targeted, evidence-based actions, not just more money.

Key NAEP 2024 Figures at a Glance

Sources: NAEP 2024 reports, NAGB summaries, White House note.

What Works to Improve Results

Research, combined with NAEP background data, points to a handful of strategies that consistently produce gains. They require discipline, resources, and political will.

1. High-Dosage Tutoring

Tutoring three or more times a week, aligned with classroom content, shows large gains in math and reading.

Success depends on staffing stability, integration into the school day, and teacher access to tutoring data.

Supplemental tools such as EssayHub can also offer students guided writing and subject support outside the classroom.

Tips for Implementation

• Match tutoring to classroom pacing.
• Keep ratios small.
• Incentivize attendance where participation lags.

2. Early Literacy Grounded in Evidence

States that moved to reading instruction rooted in phonics and phonemic awareness before the pandemic saw better results. Without tight alignment, recovery in reading has stalled.

Tips for Implementation

• Audit materials for evidence-based alignment.
• Provide daily structured reading practice.
• Pair coaching with simple, actionable feedback.

3. More Time for Students Below Basic

States have extended calendars, targeted summer programs, and added after-school learning blocks.

Tips for Implementation

• Prioritize essential standards.
• Use short, frequent assessments.
• Link summer courses directly to the next year’s curriculum.

4. Attendance as a First Priority

Absenteeism rose, especially among 12th graders. Districts that use real-time attendance dashboards and immediate outreach see improvements within weeks.

Tips for Implementation

• Monitor daily, not weekly.
• Offer flexible transportation or schedules.
• Reschedule missed tutoring quickly.

5. Classroom Quality and Curriculum Coherence

Strong instruction is the backbone. Coherent curricula, consistent assessments, and teacher coaching drive long-term improvement.

Tips for Implementation

• Standardize assessments across schools.
• Equip coaches with short, focused playbooks.
• Protect collaborative planning time.

The Spending Debate

The White House note argued that more spending hasn’t automatically improved achievement.

Scholars caution against blanket claims: targeted investments in tutoring, literacy, and attendance deliver measurable results, while scattershot spending often does not.

Questions to Ask Locally

Policy Friction That Could Affect NAEP

• Operational capacity: Cuts to NAEP staffing and funding may slow future assessments.
• Confidentiality rules: New policies on data protection could affect participation.
• Credibility concerns: NAEP’s role as a national signal depends on regular, reliable reporting.

Safeguarding NAEP’s scope and credibility is critical if it is to remain the country’s best barometer of student achievement.

How States Can Use the 2024 Signal Right Now

• Set subgroup targets. Use percentile data to commit publicly to reducing the share below Basic within 12–24 months.
• Tie funding to quality. Pay partners based on growth and attendance, not seat time.
• Publish simple dashboards. Show attendance, tutoring minutes, and short-cycle assessments.
• Protect teacher time. Build in weekly planning and coaching windows.

Final Takeaway

The White House note is blunt because the stakes are high. NAEP 2024 showed twelfth-grade reading and math near historic lows, eighth-grade science slipping, and absenteeism rising. But the path forward isn’t hidden.

A recent case in Kansas, where a teacher won a $575,000 settlement after refusing to use a transgender student’s pronouns, shows how education debates now reach far beyond curriculum or testing.

High-dosage tutoring, evidence-based reading instruction, more time for students below Basic, tighter attendance, and stronger classroom practice all have the weight of research behind them.

If leaders commit to those basics and stick with them, the Nation’s Report Card could look very different in the years ahead.