A landmark review reveals that despite the Department of Education’s $3 trillion investment since its 1980 founding, national test scores in reading and math have stagnated—or even declined—over decades, raising urgent questions about the effectiveness of federal education spending. Critics argue that decades of policy shifts and funding have failed to deliver measurable progress, while supporters point to broader challenges like socioeconomic disparities and shifting assessment standards. The analysis examines whether structural reforms or alternative approaches could finally break the cycle of underperformance. With education funding at record levels, the findings could spark a national debate over priorities and accountability in K-12 policy.
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, ...
