Bipartisan ‘Let’s Get Ready’ Initiative Explores Policy Solutions
Washington, D.C. – National Governors Association (NGA) Chair Colorado Governor Jared Polis and Vice Chair Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt commented on a new report from the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP). Compared to pre-pandemic scores from 2019, the 2024 edition of The Nation’s Report Card shows America’s 4th graders dropped 3 points in math and 5 points in reading, while 8th graders lost 8 points in math and 5 points in reading. Compared to 2022, fourth grade math scores ticked up 2 points, while reading scores declined 2 points. For 8th graders, math scores held steady, and reading scores dipped 2 points. Students in the lowest-performing 25th and 10th percentiles showed the steepest declines, with reading scores dropping to the lowest levels recorded since NAEP tracking began in 1992.
“This is an all-hands-on-deck moment for education,” said Governor Polis. “Test scores confirm students are still struggling, but that’s not the whole story. Reading and math scores were declining even before the pandemic – especially for the lowest-performing students. Our challenge isn’t just to get back to normal; it’s to reverse decades of deterioration. The widening gap between top-performing students and struggling students is unsustainable and unacceptable in America. These alarming scores should be a catalyst for innovation. Free early childhood education, tutoring and afterschool programs, innovative charter schools – everything should be on the table to ensure every student can succeed no matter their zip code. I’m proud Governors from both sides of the aisle are joining my Let’s Get Ready initiative to make real bipartisan progress on this urgent priority.”
“Every child should have access to education that prepares them for success in life,” said Governor Stitt. “These test scores confirm it’s time to think outside the box. Governors are taking decisive action to revolutionize our education systems – creating more options for parents and students while investing more in our teachers and public education than ever before. Giving students and teachers tools to increase reading and math scores is an urgent priority, but we can’t stop there. Let’s think long term and open the door to more innovative, workforce-oriented schools. Ensuring all students are career ready or college ready is a top focus for Governors of both parties.”
Launched in July 2024, Let’s Get Ready: Educating All Americans for Success is a yearlong initiative designed to support the nation’s Governors in driving innovative education policies. Let’s Get Ready aims to help Governors form policies that better evaluate outcomes for state investments in education and improve outcomes for learners at all stages of their education journey. The initiative also focuses on the ways states can meet the future needs of the workforce by preparing students for success in and outside of the classroom.
Governor Polis will discuss his Let’s Get Ready initiative today during 2024 Nation’s Report Card: Reflecting on the Results, a virtual event presented by NGA, the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), and the Council of the Great City Schools (CGCS).
Governors from across the nation will join Governor Polis for an in-depth discussion on Let’s Get Ready at the NGA Winter Meeting in Washington, D.C., Feb. 21-22.
Learn more about the Let’s Get Ready initiative and upcoming bipartisan events on the NGA website.