The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) released results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), showing significant declines in the mathematics and reading scores of 13-year-old students in the United States.

The average mathematics score for 13-year-olds decreased by 9 points between the 2019-20 and 2022-23 school years, while the average reading score declined by 4 points over the same period. These declines are the largest ever recorded on the NAEP long-term trend assessment.

U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona says the report is evidence that students need more individual support.

“Today’s results underscore why the Biden-Harris administration remains laser-focused on our plan to Raise the Bar for the academic achievement of all students and maximize the American Rescue Plan’s historic investments in recovery,” said Cardona in a statement. “Schools have committed nearly 60 percent of their American Rescue Plan funds to address lost learning time and accelerate academic recovery by hiring more teachers, counselors, and support staff, providing more tutoring and one-on-one support to students, and extending learning time through high quality afterschool and summer learning programs.”

According to the organization’s website, the Nation’s Report Card, is to measure the educational achievement and progress of the nation’s students at established grades and ages in relation to the content. Other exams have shown similar declines in other grades since the pandemic.