Senate Panel Examines K-12 Education

On Thursday, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee held a hearing, “The State of K-12 Education.” Senators and expert witnesses expressed serious concerns about declining student achievement as evidenced by recent National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) scores, and the need for systemic reform. Committee Chairman Bill Cassidy (R-LA) stressed the urgency for the sake of students and the nation. Cassiday emphasized school choice as a good solution to improve K-12 education. Ranking Member Bernie Sanders (I-VT) agreed about the need to improve education, but stated, “as important as education is, we also have to focus on the conditions that our children are living in,” including very high rates of poverty. 

Hearing witnesses testified that student performance in reading and math has been steadily falling since 2013, with pandemic-related disruptions exacerbating the trend. In response, the panel highlighted several strategies to reverse these declines, including implementation of evidence-based literacy instruction, stronger academic standards, and performance-driven pay for educators and schools. There was broad support among witnesses and Senators for mentorship initiatives and teacher apprenticeship models—approaches aimed at addressing educator shortages and promoting excellence in the profession. 

Members from both parties raised concerns about chronic absenteeism, a lack of student engagement, and mental health challenges, linking some of these issues to social media and technology. Some Democratic lawmakers criticized the Administration for recent cuts to education grant funding, arguing that federal investment must align with the nation’s stated commitment to public education and student outcomes.

The hearing can be viewed here.