A landmark review examines whether decades of massive federal investment in education has delivered on its core mission of raising student achievement. After pouring trillions into public schools, new data reveals stagnant—or even declining—reading and math proficiency rates across the country. Critics question whether the system’s vast funding has translated into meaningful improvements, while supporters argue structural challenges remain unaddressed. The findings spark a debate over how best to allocate resources to finally bridge longstanding 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, ...
