The Invisible American Children
When historians look back at the current presidential campaign, they will wonder if our children were invisible. American kids just went through the biggest learning crisis ever recorded, but you would never know that from following our presidential candidates in this campaign cycle.
The data on learning loss is indisputable. NAEP scores in 2022 show that the achievement gains in reading and math over the last two decades were all lost during the pandemic. High schoolers who graduated in 2022 had the lowest ACT scores in 30 years. More alarming, 28% of American students are now chronically absent (36% in low-achievement districts), so it is hard to imagine that they will be able to catch up on their learning. If they were in school, the average student would need the equivalent of 4.8 additional months of schooling to catch up in reading and 4.3 months in math.
But you would never know this from following the presidential campaign. The two presidential debates did not have a single question about education. The word education was mentioned only once by President Biden talking about increases in Pell grants in the first debate. And it was never mentioned in the second debate.
The 2024 platform of Donald Trump has one chapter dedicated to K-12 schools but it doesn't mention learning loss and it seems to prioritize eliminating indoctrination rather than academic achievement. I absolutely support Trump’s commitment to school choice, parental rights and less political content in schools - but what about focusing on kids learning to read, write and do math?
Kamala Harris’ platform on education doesn’t include any concrete policy on K-12 besides saying it will “strengthen public education.” So I looked at her remarks at the American Federation of Teachers’ National Convention this July. She didn't say anything about learning loss, she didn't even use the word learning. Her only interview with the press did not include one question about education - even though she was part of the administration that closed schools and presided over the biggest learning loss ever recorded.
Don't count on the Teachers Union to remind the country about the urgent need for our kids to catch up on learning: you won't find the words ‘learning loss’ in this year keynote address by Becky Pringle, President of the National Education Association, nor in the 2024 State of the Union Speech by Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers.
Surely, we can trust Tim Walz, the vice Presidential Candidate, who was a high school teacher and was named 2003 Minnesota Teacher of the Year, to focus the country on education and learning. But in 2022, Walz said in a radio interview, “I don't buy it” when asked about the post-COVID drop in standardized assessments.
As a senator, JD Vance only sponsored bills related to higher education. He has spoken about “culture wars” in education, but I can’t find any statement from him about learning loss or specific policy proposals to address this problem.
I know that with assassination attempts, wars around the world, and inflation, it is hard for the media and the country to pay attention to education. But our kids' learning can't remain invisible in this presidential campaign! Parents like me are eager to know what our presidential candidates think about learning loss and how they plan to address it. Who will make our kids' education visible before we vote in November?
