Maine Education Commissioner criticized over declining test scores

Jacob Posikis, representing Maine Civic Action and the Maine Policy Institute, has criticized Maine Department of Education Commissioner Pender Makin regarding the state’s declining academic performance.

According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), Maine’s fourth-grade students performed below the national average in both reading and mathematics in 2024. Eighth-grade results have remained largely stagnant, with neither grade level returning to pre-pandemic performance levels.

Posikis argues that Commissioner Makin has attempted to shift the focus away from these traditional academic metrics by emphasizing the state’s Through Year Assessment and launching the ‘Measure What Matters’ initiative in 2024. The critic suggests these moves are intended to broaden the definition of educational excellence to avoid addressing poor standardized test results.