US 15-Year-Olds' Reading Scores Decline to Lowest Level in 25 Years

Scores among 15-year-olds in the United States have decreased by 14 points from 2022, reaching the lowest level in approximately 25 years, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The OECD released findings from the 2025 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) on September 9, 2026. The results indicated that US reading scores fell 14 points from the previous assessment in 2022. This decline is part of a broader international trend, with an OECD average from 23 countries also dropping 16 points. However, the US exhibited a notable performance gap, with 25.7 percent of students classified as low performers in reading and 13.3 percent identified as top performers. Michael Kieffer, a professor of literacy education at New York University, stated, "Looking across all 90 participating countries, there was not a single country with significantly wider inequality in reading scores than the US. What is clear is that we are under-serving many students." The PISA results coincide with the administration of former President Donald Trump, who has advocated for changes in the federal government's role in education. In March 2025, Trump issued an executive order directing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to initiate the dismantling of the Department of Education, which oversees student achievement tracking, federal education funding distribution, and civil rights enforcement in schools. Despite this, the Education Department does not set school curriculums or academic standards, which are typically managed by state and local authorities. Trump has cited declining test scores as justification for closing the department, criticizing it for its "entrenched bureaucracy" and calling for a redistribution of its responsibilities to the states. In a statement to Al Jazeera, McMahon echoed Trump's sentiments, asserting that the federal education bureaucracy has hindered children's education and future prospects. The White House has contended that federal education spending has been excessive and ineffective in improving standardized test scores, noting that since its establishment in 1979, the Education Department has spent over $3 trillion. McMahon emphasized the need for a "hard reset" to empower state leaders and promote innovative learning options through school choice. The term "school choice" refers to diverting taxpayer funds from public education to support alternative schooling options, such as charter schools and private institutions. Critics argue that this system undermines public education by favoring less regulated alternatives. Since taking office in 2025, Trump has supported school choice as a means of promoting educational freedom. Last year, the Education Department announced a $500 million investment in its Charter School Program, described as the largest investment in the initiative's history. Additionally, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Trump's key legislation, established the first federal tax credit for donations to organizations providing scholarships for primary and secondary school students. In July 2025, Trump hosted a school choice-themed event at the White House to mark the new school year. Critics, however, assert that comprehensive investment in education is essential to address declining test scores. OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann stated, "PISA 2025 shows that reversing declines in student performance is urgent. The most successful education systems focus on fewer areas in greater depth, invest in teachers, engage parents, and provide targeted support for the students and schools that need it the most."