Test scores have fallen to historic lows, student mobility has stalled, and the gap between top performers and their peers has widened. Data from the Department of Education and expert testimony show it is time for change.

“It’s a problem from [kindergarten through 12th grade]. It needs to be answered in that way. We need more rigorous instruction, higher expectations, a strong response to runaway iPhone culture, and less acceptance of absenteeism or misconduct. There’s a need to improve the teacher workforce, expand good options for families, and ensure dollars are spent more responsibly,” Frederick Hess, the K-12 Education Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, told the Washington Examiner.