concerned parent looking at a school report card with declining grades
For decades, parents across America have placed their trust in the public education system, believing it would equip their children with the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed. However, many are now realizing that the very institutions responsible for shaping young minds have been overtaken by bureaucratic waste, ideological programming, and declining academic standards.
The U.S. Department of Education, established in 1979, was intended to improve national academic performance. However, over four decades later, test scores have stagnated or declined, while federal education spending has soared. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), math and reading scores have remained flat or worsened despite billions of dollars invested in reforms (NCES). Additionally, a report from the Heritage Foundation highlights that despite continuous federal intervention, student performance has shown no significant improvement (Heritage Foundation).
At the heart of this crisis is an education system that has prioritized political activism over fundamental learning. Instead of focusing on literacy, mathematics, and STEM subjects, many schools have redirected resources toward divisive social programs and unproven ideological initiatives.
A Culture of Waste and Political Indoctrination
Recent reports have uncovered massive financial waste within the Department of Education, including over $350 million spent on “woke” programs that have little to do with improving educational outcomes (The Gateway Pundit). These programs have been used to promote race-based hiring, controversial teacher training, and divisive curriculum changes, many of which have come under legal scrutiny.
The Department of Education has even been found to have funded teacher training programs that imply race should be considered in grading, discipline, and hiring practices (The Gateway Pundit). This revelation comes just months after the Supreme Court’s ruling in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, which declared that race-based admissions and hiring practices violate civil rights laws (U.S. Department of Education).
Many parents now fear that schools are being used as ideological battlegrounds rather than places of academic excellence. Classroom time that should be devoted to critical thinking, problem-solving, and fundamental skills is instead spent on political and social agendas that have no bearing on a child’s future success.
Falling Test Scores, Lowering Standards, and the Decline of Student Readiness
One of the most alarming trends in public education is the deliberate lowering of academic standards to inflate graduation rates. Schools have increasingly moved away from standardized testing, clear grading metrics, and academic rigor, leading to:
- Declining IQ scores: Studies indicate a drop in measured intelligence levels among students in Western countries with progressive education policies (NCES).
- Flat or worsening test scores: Despite exponential increases in federal education spending, students’ abilities in reading, writing, and math remain stagnant or in decline (Heritage Foundation).
- Lack of career and college readiness: Employers and universities report that many recent graduates lack basic literacy and numeracy skills, requiring remedial training before they can be productive members of the workforce.
These troubling statistics raise an urgent question: If the federal government is spending more on education than ever before, why are children learning less?
The Push to Abolish the Department of Education
With these concerns mounting, many education reform advocates argue that the Department of Education has failed its mission and should be abolished entirely. Reports suggest that the Trump administration is drafting an executive order to dismantle the department, shifting power back to states, local governments, and parents (The Gateway Pundit).
While some may view this as extreme, the evidence suggests otherwise. The Department of Education has evolved into a bloated, inefficient bureaucracy, more focused on enforcing political compliance than academic excellence. If control is returned to state and local governments, schools would have the freedom to reinvest in proven educational strategies, eliminate unnecessary spending, and prioritize parental input.
The concept is simple: local communities should decide what is best for their children—not Washington, D.C. bureaucrats.
What Parents Can Do
Concerned parents across the country are beginning to take action, advocating for real change in the public education system. To ensure their children receive a quality education, families must:
✅ Support policies that return control of education to local communities and parents.
✅ Push for merit-based, high-standard curricula free from ideological biases.
✅ Demand accountability from school boards and government agencies on how funds are used.
✅ Fight against federal overreach and oppose wasteful spending on unnecessary programs.
The education of the next generation is not just another policy debate—it is a crisis with long-term consequences for America’s future.
Conclusion
The evidence is clear: public education in America is failing, and federal intervention has only made it worse. Parents, teachers, and local leaders must reclaim control over the education system, ensuring that students are given the tools they need to succeed—not just in the classroom, but in life.
If meaningful changes are not made soon, generations of students will continue to fall behind, and America’s standing as a leader in global education will continue to erode. The time for action is now.
Citations & Sources
- Heritage Foundation: Students’ test scores have remained unchanged despite decades of federal intervention. (Heritage Foundation)
- NCES (National Center for Education Statistics): Public education test scores and academic performance trends. (NCES)
- The Gateway Pundit: Reports on the elimination of $350 million in “woke” education programs. (Gateway Pundit)
- The Gateway Pundit: Coverage of the push to abolish the Department of Education. (Gateway Pundit)
- The Gateway Pundit: Reports on race-based teacher training programs funded by the Department of Education. (Gateway Pundit)
- U.S. Department of Education: Official press release canceling $350 million in controversial funding. (U.S. Department of Education)
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