A landmark review questions whether decades of massive federal investment in education—totaling trillions in taxpayer funds—has delivered on its core promise of raising student achievement. Despite the Department of Education’s creation in 1980 to drive improvements, new data on national test scores in reading and math reveal stagnant or declining performance, sparking debate over the effectiveness of long-standing education policies. Critics argue the sheer scale of spending has not translated into measurable progress for students, while supporters point to broader systemic challenges beyond funding alone. The findings could reshape discussions on how best to allocate resources to close persistent gaps in learning.
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, ...
