This conversation examines the decline in U.S. educational standards, with test scores showing a downward trend since 2013, worsened by the pandemic. It explores the impact of technology, social media, and early school start times on student performance, as well as disparities across states. Rick Hess discusses teacher responsibilities, union influences, and classroom inefficiencies, advocating for innovative teaching models. The conversation also addresses grade inflation, cultural values, international comparisons, and the rising costs of higher education, calling for a reassessment of teaching practices and expectations.
AEI’s Rick Hess joins Jesse for a wide-ranging conversation on the collapse of academic performance in American schools. They unpack why test scores haven’t recovered since the pandemic, the long-term impact of smartphones, and why nearly 1 in 4 students are now chronically absent. Hess also explains how schools are often structured more for the convenience of adults than the learning needs of children, and why $190 billion in federal aid has done little to reverse the decline.
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