A landmark review reveals that decades of massive federal investment—totaling over $3 trillion in taxpayer funds—have failed to deliver meaningful progress in core academic performance, as national test scores in reading and math remain stagnant or decline despite the Department of Education’s founding mission to drive educational improvement. Critics question whether the sheer scale of spending has translated into tangible benefits for students, while policymakers debate the effectiveness of current strategies. The analysis examines whether structural reforms or alternative approaches could better address persistent gaps in learning outcomes.
The Department of Education was established in 1980 with the promise of improving education outcomes for America’s students. $3 trillion in taxpayer dollars later, national test scores in reading, ...
