Recent findings from a study by researchers at Harvard, Stanford, and Dartmouth have placed Florida at the bottom among 35 states in terms of academic growth in reading. This revelation comes amid what experts are calling a "learning recession" affecting the entire nation, as reported by NBC Miami.
The Education Scorecard 2026, released on May 13, examines the performance of students from third to eighth grade on state exams. It reveals that reading and math scores have declined in 83% of school districts across the United States over the past decade.
Florida has experienced the steepest decline compared to all states analyzed.
The data is stark: the average student in Florida is over 0.7 grade levels behind the reading levels of 2019.
In eighth-grade reading, Florida dropped from 25th place in 2017 to 43rd in 2024, according to data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress cited in the report.
Nationally, eighth graders in 2025 are performing at levels equivalent to those in 1990.
When it comes to mathematics, Florida ranks 24th out of 38 states reviewed, a mid-range position that contrasts with its reading score plummet.
The Root Causes of the Educational Decline
The "learning recession" is not a recent or solely pandemic-induced phenomenon. The report indicates it began around 2013, well before COVID-19, and was exacerbated by the health crisis.
Identified causes include excessive smartphone and social media use, lingering pandemic effects, a lack of academic accountability following the expiration of the No Child Left Behind Act—replaced in 2015 by the Every Student Succeeds Act—and an over-reliance on classroom technology.
Reactions from Florida's Educational Authorities
In response to the findings, officials from two major South Florida districts defended their performance. Both Broward and Miami-Dade have received an A rating according to state standards.
Broward Superintendent Dr. Howard Hepburn expressed dissatisfaction with the study, telling NBC Miami that the public schools in the county outperform "more than half of the districts in the nation in reading and math."
Meanwhile, Miami-Dade released a statement asserting that the district has "consistently outperformed the state and comparable urban districts in math and reading."
However, Miami-Dade School Board member Dr. Steve Gallon acknowledged the report's importance: "Our parents place significant trust in the work we do, but we must view this report as an opportunity for improvement, and I hope this happens at the state level as well."
Gallon also emphasized the need to prioritize early education: "We need to invest more in early childhood; the skills of students assessed in third, fifth, and eighth grades are developed from the earliest years of life."
The Role of Technology in Education
The debate over technology use in classrooms also emerged in reactions to the report. Hepburn dismissed a complete return to traditional methods: "I see a blend of both. It’s a delicate balance, but I know we must continue innovating as school districts because society evolves around us."
The Education Scorecard is a collaboration between two of the nation's leading educational research centers: Harvard's Center for Education Policy Research (CEPR) and Stanford's Educational Opportunity Project (EOP).
Controversial Educational Policies in Florida
In recent years, Florida's educational landscape has been marked by controversial policies.
For the third consecutive year, the state leads the nation in banning books in schools, with 2,304 titles removed from school libraries according to PEN America.
Despite being the first state to restrict cellphone use in classrooms—a measure the report acknowledges as necessary—the decline in reading scores has not ceased.
The Florida Education Association warns that the teacher retention crisis remains a severe structural issue, especially in special education, math, and English, despite the state reporting a 17.7% reduction in teacher vacancies for the 2025-2026 school year.
Understanding Florida's Educational Challenges
What factors are contributing to the learning recession in Florida?
The learning recession in Florida is attributed to excessive use of smartphones and social media, persistent pandemic effects, lack of academic accountability after the No Child Left Behind Act was replaced, and an over-reliance on technology in classrooms.
How have Florida's reading scores changed over time?
Florida's reading scores have declined significantly, with the state dropping from 25th place in 2017 to 43rd in 2024 in eighth-grade reading, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress.
What is the response from Florida's educational districts to the report?
Officials from Broward and Miami-Dade districts have defended their performance, highlighting their A ratings and claiming their schools outperform many others in the nation. They see the report as an opportunity for improvement.