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American students are falling behind their international peers in math and science, according to a recently released government study
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Every four years, the National Center for Education Statistics releases the results of the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study, or TIMSS, which looks at fourth and eighth graders throughout the world
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The study, conducted in 2023, was the first to be published since the COVID-19 pandemic, and it shows mixed outcomes across the globe
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The United States was among the countries that saw a decline. While American students still score above the international average
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fourth graders' math scores fell 18 points since 2019, and eighth graders' scores went down 27 points
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which researchers say is the biggest drop the U.S. has seen since it started participating in 1995
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And when it comes to science, American students' scores were not measurably different between 2019 and 2023
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but fourth grader scores have dropped since the Tims was first administered
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And overall, the gaps between the highest and lowest performing students are widening
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While there's no general consensus as to what's causing the decline for American students
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many educators say the rise of smartphones, changes in standards, and pandemic-related school closures likely played a role
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