Following the publication of the last PISA report involving 15-year-old students United States of America show a regression in mathematics However Modest gains in reading comprehension and science, Joe Biden’s Education Secretary Miguel Cardona wanted to celebrate the bright spots, albeit cautiously. Especially USA is on the rise in world rankings Despite the losses in mathematics, it ranks 28th out of 37 countries. Cardona assured 122 billion in federal aid Resources allocated to the recovery of education after the pandemic “It allowed us to stay competitive.”.
This moderately optimistic tone is at odds with data provided by national studies, even when the United States invests much more in education per student than other countries. For example, months before the PISA report was published, both the spring report and National Assessment of Educational ProgressAnother, considered an excellent national analysis and presented in July by expert group NWEA, most alarming x-rayand approved a confirmation a downward trend that started ten years ago.
larger regression
regression in mathematicsAccording to these studies, largest ever recorded and US students The level they had in 1990. Moreover reading comprehension Is there a Decline to 2004 levels. It is estimated that students will need it on average. Additionally, four and a half months of mathematics and four months of reading comprehension training will match the pre-pandemic level. Only the youngest are showing signs of recovery.
A slight optimism Management This also contrasts with the much harsher and discouraging analyzes by the overwhelming majority of experts on the state of American education. suffered losses in history or civics education for the first time. According to academics, the epidemic caused a decline not seen in the last 20 years and increased the cases. differences between students based on race and economic status left what families and some say “covid “We insist on education.”
Problems
There is chronic absenteeism epidemic (Those who missed more than 10% of classes). Although the problem is more pronounced in poor school districts, it also occurs in wealthy schools. shortage of teachers This situation, made worse by the epidemic, continues There is a shortage of teachers in 45 percent of schools according to federal data. AND Funds approved by WashingtonOnly 20% of them had to deal with direct setbacks, They will sell it at the end of next year. Many administrations have already resisted using them to hire professionals because of the impossibility of maintaining salaries when the federal spigot is turned off. “We’re calling 2024-2025 the hemorrhage,” warned Marguerite Roza, director of the Education Sciences Laboratory at Georgetown University. “Public education has never seen a fiscal cliff of this magnitudeIncluding the last recession.”
Moreover, American education is hindered lowering standards in qualificationsAs Michael Petrill, president of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, explained in a September article. In order to reduce student stress, failures were eliminated or credit was given for work submitted late or incomplete. “Inflation” in the notes contributor the disconnect between reality and what parents perceive.
Maximum training alarm
Economists predict this generationDue to the significant education gap recorded, worst salaries and will become one puts significant pressure on the economy. And there is extreme anxiety because despite its seriousness, It does not appear to cause the condition in schools and families, as well as federal, state and local authorities, alarm, reaction And sense of urgency This will be necessary.
“This is a first class fire alarm but the majority of elected officials They don’t answer or even talk about it”, in a scathing article this summer, condemned Michael Bloomberg, the businessman, former mayor of New York and philanthropist who criticized Biden for not providing a plan from Washington, a joint session of Congress or a speech from the Oval Office.
Answers
When it comes to proposing solutions, the recipes currently implemented or proposed vary. That’s what education experts at Harvard and Stanford say, Tom Kane and Sean Reardon. Needed to significantly increase teaching time and expressed the need for authorities, for example further promote summer schools and extracurricular activities (there are significant access gaps based on economic and racial conditions).
They also recommend that school boards begin negotiations. extend the school year, start planning long-term change policies And Ideas on how to add another year to high school This can also serve to fill learning gaps while offering assistance with applying to the university cycle or taking advantage of other career paths.
There are those who look at the results with hope “high impact private lessons”It is a lesson lasting at least 30 minutes, held three times a week throughout the course in small groups of one to four students. But according to a federal study late last year, these trainings were implemented in only 37% of centers and required a lot of work and quality training; in many cases it was difficult due to the lack of teachers.
Similarly, a 16-state study conducted by the Stanford Center for Educational Outcomes Research found that the most effective way to reverse losses is to: increase students’ learning speed and one of his proposals was: teachers with outstanding results Extra stipend will be paid to accept more students.
challenges
Challenges and obstacles are also many. to exist political difficultiesThere is a clear divide between Democrats and Republicans. For example, while President Biden wants to increase the education budget by nearly 14 percent and strengthen Title 1, which supports schools with high rates of students living in poverty, the Republican proposal in Congress is to cut 28 percent of funding from the State Department. Education and 80% Title 1.
Added to this is the general lack of alarm mentioned above. Resistance of teachers’ unions and parents to some changess and a overwhelming rejection of more punitive measureslike forcing them to repeat a lesson.
During, Public education is declining in the USWith the increasing number of families choosing private schools, compatible or to get training House. Second, ‘homeschool’, This is according to a recent analysis by ‘The Washington Post’ The most growing form of education in the country: 45% compared to before the pandemic, We are now far from the image of religious extremism This is something that has made its mark for decades and is now chosen by a wide range of parents.