Dive Brief:

• Fourth grade scores declined by two points on the 2019 National Assessment of Educational Progress science tests compared to 2015 results, and average scores for the 8th and 12th grade showed no change, according to results released Tuesday by the National Assessment Governing Board, which administers the NAEP.

• Fourth and 8th grade score gaps between higher- and lower-performing students have widened. The governing board explains gaps were driven by lower-performing students — a trend seen in recent 4th and 8th grade math and reading results, according to an email from the governing board.

• The disappointing 4th grade results should be a "wake-up call" to lawmakers and educators to mandate time for science education during the school day, provide professional development for teachers, and develop equitable funding systems for schools in lower-income areas, said Cary Sneider, a visiting scholar at Portland State University and former member of NAGB, during a virtual meeting Tuesday.

Dive Insight:

The NAEP science results represent the last major release of NAEP exam performance from prior to the pandemic, said Peggy Carr, associate commissioner for assessment at the National Center for Education Statistics, during the virtual meeting. The NAEP reading and math exams scheduled for this year are being delayed to 2022.

Public and private schools voluntarily participated in the 2019 NAEP science exams, which measure students' knowledge in physical, life and earth and space sciences. A segment of the exams includes measuring students' responses to interactive tasks. For example, the 4th grade interactive task questioned students about how dandelion seeds got into a garden.

The drop in 4th-graders' science performance is worrisome to educators and researchers, especially a five-point decrease from the 2015 to 2019 scores for students scoring in the 10th percentile. Also troubling are decreasing science, reading and math scores of various student subgroups in the lowest-performing percentile. 

"There's a lot of evidence this is real and that should be of a major concern," said James Lynn Woodworth, commissioner of NCES. Woodworth also said there was a potential for low performances at the 4th, 8th and 12th grade levels on the next set of NAEP exams due to pandemic-related educational disruptions. Once those results are known, however, they will help inform areas for improvement, Woodworth said.

Additional takeaways from the 2019 NAEP science results include:

• White and Black students' scores each fell three points on the 2019 4th grade NAEP science exams compared to 2015 results. Hispanic and Asian/Pacific Islander students' scores had no significant change.

• All racial and ethnic subgroups of students, except White students, have shown improved performance since 2009.

• The average 4th grade science score was lower for students with disabilities in 2019 compared to 2009 but higher for the following student subgroups: female, Black, Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander, American Indian/Alaska Native, students of two or more races, and English learners.

• 30% of teachers said their 4th grade students participated in scientific inquiry-related activities "never to once or twice a year."

• A larger percentage of Asian and male 12th-graders have taken courses in biology, chemistry and physics since 8th grade.