The latest Nation's Report Card underscores setbacks in U.S. students' reading skills and stagnant math performance since the pandemic, revealing a widening gap between high and low achievers. While fourth-grade math scores improved slightly, reading scores fell across both grades. Educational inequalities intensified during the pandemic, with lower-performing students particularly affected. The National Assessment of Educational Progress emphasizes that chronic absenteeism and declining reading enjoyment are significantly impacting student achievement. Despite concerns, some states like Louisiana show promise with recovery efforts, signaling potential for improvement in overall educational outcomes.