Our Kids Are Falling Behind: How Brain Boost Helps Close the Learning Gaps — In and Out of School

The 2025 STAAR results are in — and while there are signs of improvement, major academic gaps remain.

Across Texas, student achievement in science, math, and reading shows progress compared to last year, but many students are still not meeting grade-level expectations. According to the Texas Education Agency (TEA):

• In 5th grade science, only 29% of students met grade-level expectations in 2025 — a 3-point improvement from last year, but still well below pre-pandemic levels.

• Just 38% of 6th grade students met grade-level expectations in math — a 1-point improvement from 2024, but still far below pre-COVID levels.

• Even in reading, results are mixed — with just 49% of 3rd graders meeting grade-level expectations, and most other grades hovering slightly above 50%.

These aren’t just test scores — they’re indicators of deeper learning gaps that, if left unaddressed, will follow students into middle school, high school, and beyond.

➡️ Want to see a toolkit that actually helps close these gaps? Explore Brain Boost

📉 Learning Loss Is Real — and Persistent

Despite the return to full-time instruction, students continue to struggle with academic recovery:

• Many lack foundational knowledge in math, reading, and science.

• Classroom instruction time is stretched thin.

• Traditional review methods aren’t sticking — especially for hands-on learners.

And while STAAR results have improved in some areas, the overall numbers still show that too many students are not yet where they need to be.

🌎 Not Just Texas: A National Learning Crisis

Texas isn’t alone. Across the country, other states are seeing similar gaps:

• California: K–12 students are gradually rebounding from the pandemic, with nearly all student groups—especially low-income, Black, and Latino students—showing progress in math and English language arts. In the 2023–24 school year, 47% of students met or exceeded ELA standards, and 35.5% did so in math, reflecting modest but positive gains across the state. (CalMatters, Feb 2025).

• Florida: 53% of students in grades 3–10 are on or above grade level in reading, and 55% in mathematics, according to the Florida Department of Education's 2023–24 assessments. While these figures show improvements from the previous year, nearly half of the students remain below grade-level expectations. (FLDOE, 2025).

• New York: In New York City, 53.4% of students in grades 3–8 met proficiency standards in math, up from 49.9% the previous year, while 49.1% met proficiency standards in ELA, down from 51.7%, according to the NYC Department of Education's 2023–24 assessment results (NYC DOE, Aug 2024).

Each state uses its own assessment system (STAAR, CAASPP, FAST, NYSTP) but the academic trend is consistent: recovery is gradual, and the gaps remain real: academic recovery is happening slowly, and students need more time, tools, and support to fully bounce back.

✔️ Brain Boost is already helping programs in multiple states turn scores around. See how it works

🧠 But What About Standardized Tests?

Many educators have legitimate concerns about the structure, pressure, and high stakes of standardized tests like STAAR. And those concerns aren’t unjustified — standardized tests can narrow instruction, create extra student stress, and sometimes fail to reflect the full picture of what students know and can do — often disproportionately affecting students from marginalized or underserved groups.

But even critics agree: when large numbers of students aren’t meeting grade-level expectations, that signals more than a testing flaw — it signals a learning gap. Especially in core subjects like reading, science, and math, where concepts build year over year, these gaps have lasting consequences if not addressed.

And Brain Boost isn’t built to "teach to the test" — it’s built to reinforce what tests reveal is missing: reasoning, vocabulary, confidence, and conceptual mastery.

💡 What Is Brain Boost?

Brain Boost is a flexible toolkit of 25 standards-aligned academic activities designed to strengthen core skills in:

• Science

• Math

• Language Arts

Originally built for afterschool programs, Brain Boost’s 30-minute activities are just as effective during the school day. They’re:

• Short enough to fit into pull-out blocks or centers

• Structured enough for targeted remediation or Tier 2/3 intervention

• Engaging enough to support enrichment and extension

Each kit serves 45 students, supports small groups of 15, and includes over 37 hours of hands-on learning.

✨ Curious how these activities look in action? Browse sample activities

🧪 Fixing the 5th Grade Science Gap — with Real Engagement

The STAAR data shows a major drop in science performance — especially in 5th grade, where nearly 3 out of 4 students still fall below the Meets Grade Level standard.

Brain Boost directly targets this crisis by:

• Reinforcing key science concepts through inquiry-based experiments

• Strengthening observation, reasoning, and vocabulary — exactly what STAAR assesses

• Making learning stick, because kids are doing, not just hearing

Whether used in afterschool or science lab time, these activities make abstract standards tangible — and memorable.

📌 Check out Brain Boost: Science

📚 Built for School-Day Success, Too

While Brain Boost shines in OST settings, its structure is ideal for use during:

• Intervention blocks

• RTI and MTSS support

• Small-group rotations

• Push-in or pull-out instruction

• Substitute-led activities

• Shortened school days

Because every lesson is:

• Teacher-ready (no prep required)

• Aligned to state standards

• Hands-on and visual

• Appropriate for small groups or stations

Schools can use Brain Boost to re-teach, reinforce, or enrich — without requiring more curriculum hours or planning time.

🔁 Repetition, Structure, and Momentum

What makes Brain Boost different is its consistency:

• Lessons build sequentially across the year

• Each session focuses on a clear academic goal

• Activities repeat key skills in new ways, building mastery over time

It’s not a cram tool. It’s a long-term recovery solution — one that works whether you’re filling gaps during the day or extending learning after hours.

🏫 One Tool. Two Powerful Uses.

Brain Boost is uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between instructional time and afterschool time:

• Use it during the day to target specific academic gaps.

• Use it after school to reinforce and enrich.

• Use it year-round to build habits, confidence, and skill retention.

✅ The Takeaway

The STAAR results may be sobering — but they don’t have to define the future.

With Brain Boost, districts and program leaders can:

• Rebuild essential science, math, and literacy skills

• Reach students in multiple learning environments

• Deliver measurable impact without adding planning burden

Let’s turn test data into action — and give students the tools to catch up and thrive.

📍 Want to learn more or bring Brain Boost to your school or program?

👉 Explore the Brain Boost Collection or Contact Us to Talk Details