Education in America is in the midst of a vast and ongoing transformation. From the decrease in funding for educational institutions to the growing focus on testing and standardization, the public education system is shrinking, and the consequences are wide-reaching. While it is true that the quality of education is still largely determined by the school district and individual teachers, the lack of resources available to educators and schools put them at a disadvantage, and ultimately prevent students from reaching their full potential.

At its core, the root of the education crisis in America is a lack of investment. Without sufficient funding, schools are unable to provide qualified staff, material resources, and programs to students. This means fewer teachers, fewer classroom materials, and fewer opportunities for extracurricular activities, resulting in a decrease in the quality of education. Studies show that students in underfunded districts, often located in low-income areas, are less likely to graduate from high school and college and more likely to experience academic failures than students in wealthier districts.

In addition to lack of funding, education in America is shrinking due to a growing emphasis on testing and standardization. While standardized tests are often used to measure student performance, they can also be detrimental to the quality of education, primarily due to the amount of time and resources devoted to preparing for the tests, instead of the time and resources devoted to learning. As a consequence, critical thinking, creativity, and natural talent are sacrificed in order to meet the test requirements.

In an effort to increase accountability in schools, the Federal Government has recently imposed a number of reforms, such as Common Core and high-stakes standardized tests. While some of the reforms have proven to be beneficial to students, others have had a negative impact on the quality of education. For example, high-stakes standardized tests put immense pressure on teachers and can cause them to focus more on test preparation than teaching.

Finally, a shrinking education system has far-reaching consequences for students and for society as a whole. For example, not having access to quality education makes it harder for students to obtain the skills and knowledge necessary to excel in higher education and in the workforce. This means that high school students are less likely to pursue college degrees or enter the STEM field, and low-income students are more likely to remain in cycles of poverty.

The shrinking state of education in America is an alarming trend that needs to be addressed. With increased funding and support for underfunded districts, schools can offer more resources and opportunities to students, and focus less on test preparation and more on engaging learning. Additionally, changing the focus from high-stakes testing to real-world skills and experiences, particularly for low-income students, can help to provide students with a chance to reach their full potential.