More than half of students across all grade levels tested in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) failed to meet state testing standards in subjects like mathematics and English for the 2021–22 school year.

The district’s preliminary results show that only about 42 percent of students met English standards, while only 28 percent met those for mathematics, according to data released by the district Sept. 9. The California Department of Education’s “Smarter Balanced Assessments” test students in grades 3–8 and 11.

District officials said in a statement that the results were expected due to school lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic, which they said has “erased two decades of progress in math and reading.”

“As anticipated, the preliminary state assessment results illustrate that there is no substitute for in-person instruction,” Superintendent Alberto Carvalho said.

The scores are also lower than three years ago across all grade levels tested, except for eighth-grade English, which increased by about half a percentage point to about 42 percent. The 2018–19 school year was the last time the tests were conducted before being interrupted by the pandemic.

Webmaster addition: But they know all the correct gender pronouns! That's gotta count for something!