A landmark review reveals that decades of massive federal investment—totaling trillions in taxpayer funds—have failed to deliver meaningful improvements in core academic performance, as national test scores in reading and math remain stagnant or decline despite the Department of Education’s long-standing mission to boost student achievement. Critics question whether the sheer scale of spending has translated into tangible progress, while educators and policymakers debate the most effective strategies for closing persistent gaps in learning. The findings underscore a growing divide between federal education policy ambitions and measurable results in classrooms across the country.
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, ...
