The preliminary results for the 2026 Missouri Assessment Program were recently released to the public. Student performance in mathematics was encouraging, as scores have now surpassed their pre-pandemic levels. Of course, it is still concerning that 27 percent of students scored below basic, and that only 44 percent scored proficient or advanced—meaning less than half of students had a firm grasp on grade-level material.
However, results for English language arts (ELA) were not as positive.
Technically, scores improved. There was a one-percentage-point increase in the number of students who scored advanced, and a two-percentage-point decrease in the number who scored below basic. However, over the last five years, scores have largely remained stagnant.
Not only did ELA scores remain below pre-pandemic levels, they remain below the post-pandemic dip in 2021.
Figure 1: Missouri Assessment Program ELA Scores, 3rd Grade through High School
There was an opportunity to pass proven early literacy reforms in Missouri last year. However, our legislators continued to insist on waiting for past legislation (Senate Bills 681 and 662) to take “full effect.” This raises two key questions:
- How long are we going to continue to wait as scores remain stagnant?
- Why wait on an unknown when we could pass early literacy reforms that have led to dramatic improvements in other states including Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee, Indiana?
One explanation is that Missouri school officials and lawmakers continue to misunderstand how dire the situation is. Missouri should see minor improvements from earlier legislation, but it won’t be enough. We need more substantial reforms, like mandatory third-grade retention and aligning teacher preparation programs with the science of reading. These more serious reforms have been integral to driving huge gains in other states.
In 2024, 42 percent of Missouri’s fourth graders scored below basic on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). In other words, 42 percent of our fourth graders can barely read.
Figure 2: Missouri’s National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) ELA Scores, 4th Grade
We will have another chance to make meaningful reforms during the 2027 legislative session to help more students become confident, capable readers. Given where we are, small reforms with small potential aren’t enough.
