High school seniors have the worst reading skills in three decades and the worst math performance since 2005, according to new federal testing data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP).

These statistics reflect an increase in electronic assignments, the COVID pandemic and a decrease in funding for public schools across the U.S., The New York Times reported. A third of high school seniors tested do not have basic reading skills, can not determine the meaning of a political speech, or are not able to use percentages to solve real-world prob-
lems. Moreover, only a third of high schoolers are leaving high school with the proficiency needed for college, The New York Times reported.

The results reflect a broader U.S. trend that students are performing far below grade level, The New York Times reported.

Some criticize the NAEP for being more diffi cult than other standardizedtests students may be taking, and for providing general, national information when many educational decisions are made at the local level, The New
York Times reported.