Staff Reports
For decades, the U.S. Department of Education has been a towering symbol of federal intervention in education, promising equity, excellence, and improved outcomes for students. Yet, after nearly half a century and over $3 trillion spent, the results have been alarmingly underwhelming. Academic achievement has stagnated, with test scores in reading, math, and science falling behind international benchmarks. The United States now ranks 24th in math globally—far below nations that spend less but operate decentralized education systems. These grim statistics raise serious questions about the efficacy of federal oversight in education.
The Department’s defenders argue that its funding is vital for addressing disparities among disadvantaged students. However, data suggests otherwise. Despite billions allocated to programs aimed at closing achievement gaps, functional illiteracy rates remain stubbornly high at around 20%. Eighth-grade reading and math scores have barely budged since the late 1970s, and high school seniors continue to struggle with basic civics knowledge. Even during the pandemic, when $186 billion in federal relief was pumped into schools, learning losses persisted—especially for low-income students—highlighting inefficiencies in how funds are utilized.
A significant factor in this failure has been the influence of teachers’ unions, which wield immense power over education policy but often prioritize their own interests over student needs. During the pandemic, unions pushed for prolonged school closures under the guise of safety concerns, ignoring mounting evidence of the devastating impact on student learning. Remote learning disproportionately harmed low-income families and exacerbated achievement gaps. Meanwhile, unions leveraged reopening negotiations to secure partisan goals like charter school moratoriums and increased staffing—moves that inflated costs without addressing declining enrollment or performance.
Amid this dysfunction, parents are increasingly turning to alternatives like charter schools and private school choice programs. Charter school enrollment has surged by nearly 400,000 students since the pandemic began, while traditional public schools have lost almost 1.8 million students. This shift reflects growing frustration with a system that prioritizes bureaucratic expansion over educational innovation. Charter schools offer tailored curriculums and accountability measures that appeal to families seeking better options for their children’s success.
The Department of Education’s failures underscore the urgent need for reform focused on empowering parents and local communities rather than perpetuating federal inefficiency. Programs like universal school choice and tax credit scholarships provide families with the freedom to escape failing schools and choose environments that align with their values and aspirations. By decentralizing education governance and reducing Washington’s grip on local schools, states can foster competition and innovation that drive meaningful improvements in student outcomes.
Ultimately, the path forward lies in shifting power away from bloated federal agencies and toward parents who know their children’s needs best. The Department of Education’s legacy of broken promises serves as a cautionary tale: real progress will only come when families are given control over their children’s education—and when policymakers prioritize results over rhetoric.
