Portland, Ore. — November 21, 2024 — NWEA, a K-12 assessment and research organization, shared a series of predictions today focused on the upcoming new year. From research to professional learning, NWEA experts weigh in on what they predict will be key issues facing educators and schools in 2025.
Closing the Gaps to Address COVID-19’s Lingering Effects on Middle School Students
“As we approach 2025, the impact of COVID-19 on academic gains and achievement continues to be a concern, especially in the area of middle school literacy. Current middle schoolers, who spent their early literacy years navigating the pandemic’s learning disruptions, face some of the most persistent challenges in our education system, according to our latest research. Recovery efforts have stalled for many, and in some cases, achievement gaps are widening. To reverse these trends, districts must prioritize evidence-based interventions, including high-dosage tutoring and extended learning time.
However, addressing academic gaps alone is not enough. The mental health toll of the pandemic on students remains significant, and comprehensive mental health support is also essential to help students re-engage fully in their learning. In addition, school leadership stability and teacher engagement will be crucial to sustaining recovery efforts. Without investing in our educators and creating stable, supportive environments, even the best interventions will fall short.
2025 must be the year we take bold, decisive action for middle school students, or we risk allowing the long-term effects of the pandemic to shape their futures.”
– Dr. Karyn Lewis, VP of Research and Policy Partnerships at NWEA
There Will Be a Move Toward Better, More Connected Tools and Systems That Save Teachers’ Time and Give Educators a More Comprehensive Picture of Student Progress
“In 2025, we will see a push to save teachers’ time through better, more connected tools and systems. Currently, teachers are overwhelmed by navigating multiple, disconnected systems for assessments, curriculum, and student data. Today’s educators are expected to access too many disconnected tools with different logins to see a specific piece of their students’ academic health instead of a comprehensive picture. This extra administrative load takes away from time that could be spent on instruction and student engagement. Moving forward, education technology will increasingly focus on integration, with platforms designed to streamline assessments, provide real-time instructional insights, and eliminate unnecessary tasks. This approach will not only alleviate tech fatigue but also free up valuable time for teachers to focus on meaningful interactions with students, driving improved outcomes. The future of edtech will empower educators by working for them—not against them—marking a new era where tools seamlessly support instruction and reduce burdens on teachers.”
– Chris Minnich, President of NWEA
Reviving Science Education: A Key Challenge for 2025
“Throughout recent school years, student learning disruptions has been a leading topic, but the focus has been primarily on literacy and mathematics. Both are essential subjects that students need to master, but the one subject that has been left out of the conversation and has faced massive disruptions is science. Before and during COVID, science took a backseat compared to other subjects. Now, we are seeing the repercussions of that, with significantly lower achievement scores and little progress made.In 2025, schools will continue to face the challenge of recovering science achievement, particularly for older students and historically marginalized students. Schools will need to prioritize integrated approaches that combine science instruction with math and reading to accelerate progress across multiple subjects. With the STEM industry growing and becoming a main driver in our workforce, it is highly important that we continue to expose students to science and educate them on the possibilities within this field.”
– Sue Kowalski, PhD, Lead Research Scientist at NWEA
Examining the Effectiveness of Local Decisions and Strategies Will Increase The Need For In-depth Research
“While COVID may be in our rear-view mirror, the effects of disruptions to learning are still being felt as students struggle to regain academic progress to pre-pandemic levels. Education leaders will have an increased need for effective options and strategies to accelerate student academic growth. Along with that, they will need a more comprehensive view of how those options and strategies are driving growth within their local school communities. National, large-scale research analysis only goes so far as to guide how best to support students. Researched efforts at the local level will see a rise in value in the years ahead. Reliable and trusted research organizations will play a critical role as partners to schools and districts seeking evidence-based answers specific to their region and district circumstances.”
– Scott Peters, PhD, Director of Research Consulting Partnerships at NWEA
Effective Data Management Will Be Essential For School Leaders To Enhance Student Success
“Data is becoming – if not already – an essential component to successfully supporting our students. These insights can tell a story about who is coming to school, who is contributing in the classroom, and who needs assistance. Unfortunately, it can be quite difficult as student information and data tends to be siloed, outdated, and non-actionable. Expecting educators to find the information, track data trends, and identify actionable steps themselves is not probable without training and resources. In 2025, we will see a growing demand for school leaders to interpret, manage, and utilize data effectively to drive student success. We will also see schools provide training on how to analyze data and what actions to take thereafter. The schools that excel will be those whose leaders embrace a practical, step-by-step approach to data leadership because of the support they are provided by their employer,”
– Tatiana Ciccarelli, Senior Professional Learning Consultant at NWEA
About NWEA
NWEA® (a division of HMH) is a mission-driven organization that supports students and educators in more than 146 countries through research, assessment solutions, policy and advocacy, and professional learning that support our diverse educational communities. Visit NWEA.org to learn more about how we’re partnering with educators to help all kids learn.
Contact: Simona Beattie, Communications Director, simona.beattie@nwea.org or 971.361.9526