Recent releases of National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) data reveal a continuation of long-term declines in student performance across key subjects. Eighth-grade science scores fell for the first time since 2009, and twelfth-graders’ math and reading results dropped to record lows not seen in over two decades. The achievement gap between high- and low-performing students has widened further. Educators and experts point to systemic issues beyond the pandemic, including reduced classroom inquiry, changes in reading instruction, and persistent educational inequities, as underlying causes of the ongoing academic slide.