The Trump administration has placed Peggy Carr, Commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), on administrative leave following the release of the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) report. The report revealed a significant decline in student performance, with eighth-grade reading and math scores dropping to their lowest levels in over two decades. Fourth-grade reading scores also hit a 20-year low, raising concerns about the state of public education in the U.S. Carr, who was appointed by former President Joe Biden in September 2021, will remain on leave pending a review of her tenure.
The NAEP, often referred to as the “Nation’s Report Card,” provides a comprehensive assessment of student achievement across the country. The latest findings indicate that post-pandemic recovery efforts in education have failed to close learning gaps, with lower-performing students experiencing the steepest declines. Carr acknowledged these issues in a statement, saying, “Overall, student achievement has not returned to pre-pandemic levels, so the struggle continues.”
In response to the findings, President Donald Trump has pledged to overhaul the Department of Education and implement significant policy changes to improve student outcomes. Linda McMahon, recently nominated as Secretary of Education, has stated her commitment to “reorienting” the department’s priorities. While some conservatives have called for dismantling the Department of Education altogether, McMahon acknowledged that such a move would require congressional approval.
The Trump administration’s focus on education reform extends beyond leadership changes. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, has recently terminated nearly $900 million in federal education contracts. These cuts impact long-term studies and research initiatives that track and improve student outcomes. Critics argue that such reductions could hinder accountability and weaken efforts to address learning loss. However, supporters of the move claim that federal education programs have failed to deliver measurable improvements and that states should have greater control over education funding and policies.
The shake-up in education leadership reflects broader efforts by the Trump administration to reverse policies implemented under previous administrations. With declining test scores and growing concerns about the quality of public education, education reform is expected to remain a central focus in the coming years. As new leadership takes shape, the effectiveness of these policy changes will be closely watched by educators, parents, and policymakers alike.
