A landmark review reveals that despite the Department of Education’s $3 trillion investment since its 1980 founding, core academic performance has sharply declined, with national test scores in reading, writing, and math hitting historic lows. Critics question whether decades of federal spending have delivered on the original mission of boosting student achievement, as proficiency rates remain far below expectations. The analysis underscores a growing divide between funding commitments and measurable educational progress, prompting calls for a reassessment of current policies. Full details on the study’s findings and policy implications are available in the report.
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, writing, and math have plummeted: in 2024, only 35% of ...
