COMMENTARY: The kids are not right; what will we do about it?
Summary
The piece, by Tommy Schultz of the American Federation for Children, warns that the nation’s K–12 system is facing an education emergency after new NAEP scores showed sharp declines in senior-year reading and maths and weak performance in science for eighth-graders. Schultz argues the declines are tied to pandemic-era disruptions and rising absenteeism, and he rejects the usual answer of simply increasing spending. Instead he pushes a policy solution now embedded in federal law: a donor-funded school choice tax credit included in recent legislation. Governors must opt in to activate the credit in each state, he says, unlocking scholarship dollars and alternatives for families who need them most.
Key Points
- Latest NAEP results show 12th-grade maths and reading scores below levels from 2005 and 1992 respectively, signalling long-term learning loss.
- Only 22% of 12th-graders were at or above proficient in maths; 35% in reading; 31% of eighth-graders reached proficiency in science.
- Absenteeism has risen — about 31% of 12th-graders reported missing three or more days in the previous month (2024), up from 2019.
- The author blames pandemic shutdowns and a system that lacks incentives to self-correct; he says more money alone won’t solve the problem.
- A newly passed federal school choice tax credit (in the “One Big Beautiful Bill”) would allow donor-funded scholarships via a governor opt-in, with donor credits up to $1,700, mirroring programmes in 18 states.
- The article is a clear call to governors: opt in now to offer families real alternatives and introduce accountability and competition into schooling.
Why should I read this?
Because this isn’t another gloomy score roundup — it’s a short, punchy call to action. If you care about what those NAEP numbers mean for the workforce, community safety and long-term opportunity, this explains one concrete policy route (school choice tax credits) that could be switched on quickly — if governors move. Quick read; saves you time and tells you who needs to act and why.
Author style
Punchy and direct. Schultz mixes alarm about the data with a sharp policy push: don’t wait for slow fixes or bigger budgets, start offering alternatives now. If you’re interested in education policy, the piece upgrades the urgency — and makes clear the decision point sits with governors.
Context and relevance
The commentary fits into larger debates about post-COVID learning loss, accountability in public education, and the expanding role of school choice. NAEP is widely used as a benchmark for national educational attainment, so these declines sharpen policy pressure at state and federal levels. The governor opt-in requirement makes this immediately relevant to state leaders and to families weighing schooling options; it also reflects an ongoing trend of donor-funded scholarship programmes spreading across states.