These teachers are cowards I am sorry. They beat around the bush and generalize all students when they damn well know it's the brown ones that hold everyone down.
— YouAreWrong (@YouAreWrongOk) June 18, 2026
US student scores on NAEP (Nation’s Report Card) fall since 2013, before pandemic. Math and reading down big time for many groups. Lowest performers hit hardest.
Critics say “equity” policies cause this: lower standards to make results equal, remove honors classes, no fail grades, equity grading (like 50% minimum even if student do nothing).
Examples: some schools cut advanced programs or stop requiring basic tests for graduation to help minority students on paper. But many teachers and parents say this hurt learning for everyone.
Gaps between rich/poor and different races stay wide or get worse. High achievers not pushed enough.
Not all blame equity also social media, less accountability after No Child Left Behind, absences, bad teaching methods. But many reports and teachers agree: focus on equal outcomes over excellence make education weaker.
States with strong standards and real support do better. Debate continue in 2026.
Reddit teacher post (original claim): https://www.reddit.com/r/Teachers/comments/1hwx5bd/we_are_failing_our_students_in_the_name_of_equity/
Stanford report on pre-pandemic decline: https://ed.stanford.edu/news/us-student-achievement-was-falling-long-pandemic-study-finds
Deseret News opinion on equity policies: https://www.deseret.com/opinion/2026/01/28/excellence-academic-standards-supports-equity-in-education/
NAEP official results: https://www.nationsreportcard.gov/