Elementary school math and reading test scores have plummeted since the COVID-19 pandemic began, according to new data from the U.S. Department of Education.

Over a two-year span, math scores dropped seven points and reading scores dropped five points.

Out of a 500 possible score, the average is 215 for reading and 234 for math.

This is the first nationwide decline in math scores and the largest drop in reading scores in 30 years, the data indicates.

The test was taken by nine-year-old students from January to March in 2020 and 2022.

The results are part of the National Assessment for Educational Progress (NAEP), known as "the nation's report card," The Washington Post reports.

Experts say more test results need to be analyzed to understand how long it could take for students to catch up.

They cite a variety of factors impacting students' test scores, including pandemic disruptions, school violence, teacher and staff vacancies, bullying and absenteeism.

A member of the governing board that sets policy for NAEP, points out, the pandemic widened the education gap for vulnerable students.

"While we see declines at all performance levels, the growing gap between students at the top and those at the bottom is an important but overlooked trend," Martin West said in a statement.

The study revealed vulnerable and at-risk students saw the highest declines in testing scores.

Math scores fell 13 points for Black students, eight points for Hispanic students and five points for White students.

Scores also dipped for students with disabilities, English language learners and the economically disadvantaged.

With varied scores in different U.S. regions, geography also made a difference. Math scores fell eight points in the Northeast, nine points in the Midwest, seven points in the South and five points in the West.

Suburban schools also fared worse than schools in urban or rural areas, according to the Washington Post.

Meanwhile, reading scores saw no measurable decline in cities or rural areas, and there were no significant changes to math scores in Asian, Native American or multicultural students.

In an interview with CNN, U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona called the steep decline in national test scores an education crisis.

"In-person learning is where we need to focus. We need to double-down our efforts," he said.

Experts caution, while the results of this assessment are unsurprising considering the disruptions COVID-19 have caused, education officials must maintain urgency in addressing the issue.

The NAEP will release more assessment results this fall, including test scores for other grade levels. 

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