A recent report from the American Enterprise Institute summarizes results from the most recent National Assessment of Educational Progress--also known as the nation's report card.

The test, given every two years, reports scores of our nation's children in reading and math at the fourth grade and eighth grade levels.

AEI characterizes the most recent results as a "five-alarm fire." I call it simply pathetic.

In 2024, 40 percent of fourth graders scored below "basic level" in reading. This is 25 percent worse than 2013, when 32 percent scored below "basic level."

NAEP rates scores at three levels: basic, proficient and advanced. It defines "basic" as "partial mastery of the knowledge and skills that are fundamental for proficient work."

Among Black fourth graders, 56 percent scored below basic.

Not only are scores horrible, but performance over the years has gotten decidedly worse.

One of the beauties of America's free enterprise system is that........

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