Crandi

How To Fix A Broken Education System In The United States

Leo Migdal
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how to fix a broken education system in the united states

Living in an education system often made incredibly complex, nuanced, and divisive, and after decades as a teacher, and with the mentorship and support of so many leaders before me, I have a proposed... Before arriving at potential solutions, naturally, we must first contend with facts and realities. Though this article is opinion-based, we cannot engage in conversation and critique about education in this country without examining the history of education first. We know that our first public school institutions and systems were designed to segregate primarily by class, and secondarily, by race/ethnicity. We know that pattern still exists today, in 2024. NPR cites in 2022 that our schools are still highly segregated, stating in the opening of their article, “The U.S.

student body is more diverse than ever before. Nevertheless, public schools remain highly segregated along racial, ethnic and socioeconomic lines,” (Carrillo & Salhotra, 2022). In 2022, 387 years after the first public school in the United States, and student experiences combined with data are still telling the story of segregation by class, race, and ethnicity in this country. So, in 2024, before searching for solutions, we must contend with what many don’t wish to- that is to say the system is and has always been fundamentally functional for a few, and intentionally... That marginalization continues today. The comfort in that status quo hides behind the guise of white supremacist societal structures, upholding current power dynamics, the chokehold of money and funding on politicians and lawmakers, and much more that is...

All that being said, acknowledged, and hopefully leaving all of us educators as very uncomfortable with accepting that reality continuing, what solutions exist? As with most proposed solutions, there is the ‘thing’ of it, the structural components we can hope and act to change while acknowledging we are a part of the abovementioned system, and then the... I would argue that at different times, across different areas of the country, initiatives attempting to improve the system of public education have integrated elements of each of these structural and cultural shifts, but... So, in recognition of the challenges we face as educators, what can be done? Transparently, the structural side of change will always be easier for people and systems, because it ignores the truly uncomfortable questions we often refuse to ask ourselves. Structurally, to fix education, those in positions of influence, bargaining units, disrupters, and all the way down to the first-year classroom teachers, need to advocate for a few simple things.

Simply put, teachers aren’t paid enough for the responsibilities of the role. The system is built on the foundation of unpaid labor. There are thousands of articles arguing back and forth about compensation. But the reality remains that in most places in the country, one income earner making a teaching salary simply means you are barely making ends meet in 2024. The National Education Association cites starting new teacher salaries at an average of $42,844, and teacher salaries at an average of $66,745, and when adjusting for inflation, teachers are making $3,644 less than they... The National Association of Colleges and Employers cites college graduates with a Bachelor’s degree in 2022 obtaining employment with a starting average salary of $60,028.

That’s $17,184 more than the average new teacher starting salary. NACE also shows that the field you choose matters when it comes to salary- no new information there for educators. More on that concern to come. For example, the same article indicates that a computer science major graduating with a Bachelor’s degree could expect to earn up to $95,000 upon first employment, $50,156 more than a teacher beginning their career. The computer science graduate could earn more than what two new teachers earn. I’ve yet to hear the argument that other earners in fields other than education who are beginning their careers earn too much.

95k annually at year one of a career is more than many teachers will retire with as an annual salary after 25 years plus giving service to education in this country. I cannot overstate this simple metric- pay teachers more. And not more as in, COLA (Cost of Living Adjustment) more. Pay teachers more as in; commensurate with other fields who are earning significantly more money. Along with better pay compensation, teachers deserve better benefit packages. Repeat all that’s said above with the lens of benefits offered and provide better benefits without sacrificing increased pay.

And yes, mental health benefits should be included in this conversation as non-negotiable. “If we keep prioritizing politics over students and silencing the voices of teachers, we’re not just failing our schools—we’re failing an entire generation.” In today’s rapidly evolving world, few institutions have faced more scrutiny and seismic shifts than the American education system. From nationwide teacher shortages to declining student performance, and from controversial policy decisions to growing concerns over classroom behavior and parental involvement, education in the United States is at a critical crossroads. As classrooms become battlegrounds for competing ideologies and overwhelmed educators struggle to hold the line, one voice has emerged with clarity, conviction, and firsthand insight: Bryan Wetzel. A former educational entrepreneur, Wetzel has spent years traveling the country, working with school districts, and listening to teachers—and what he uncovered compelled him to speak out.

In this powerful and eye-opening interview, Wetzel sits down with Stacey Chillemi to pull back the curtain on the real issues plaguing America’s schools. With a tone that’s both candid and compassionate, he sheds light on the root causes of systemic dysfunction—from administrative overreach to the erosion of respect for teachers—and offers common-sense solutions that prioritize students over... Drawing from his experiences, research, and countless conversations with educators, Wetzel makes a compelling case for why urgent reform is not only necessary but also entirely possible—if we’re willing to confront the hard truths... Thank you so much for joining us, Bryan! Our readers would love to get to know you a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your backstory?Absolutely, and I appreciate the chance to share my story.

Back in 2009, I co-founded a company that created educational resources for K–12 students. That venture allowed me to travel across the country, meet with school districts, and speak with thousands of teachers. It didn’t take long to realize that what I was seeing behind the scenes was deeply troubling. I assumed the decisions being made in education would make sense once I got closer to the source—but the opposite happened. I became increasingly confused and concerned. Policies didn’t align with common sense, and the focus seemed to drift away from students’ needs toward bureaucracy and budget battles.

That sparked my passion for education reform. What are some of the most pressing issues currently plaguing our education system?Where do I begin? One of the most urgent issues is the teacher shortage. Over 100,000 teaching positions are currently unfilled, and that number is projected to grow to 200,000 by 2027. Teachers are leaving the profession in droves after investing years into their education and certifications. Why?

Because they’re overworked, under-supported, and often disrespected by both administration and parents. Student behavior is another major concern—it’s deteriorating rapidly, and the lack of real consequences only makes it worse. Schools are overwhelmed, yet many decisions being made today are more about avoiding lawsuits or appeasing public optics than improving educational outcomes. The 15 Biggest Failures of the American Public Education System in 2025 American public education is at a crossroads. Once hailed as a global standard, the system today faces deep, structural problems that undermine its ability to deliver on its promise of equity and opportunity.

From worsening academic performance to chronic underfunding, the failures of the American public education system are not isolated issues but interconnected challenges. In 2025, the stakes have never been higher. Recent changes within the U.S. Department of Education, demographic shifts, and a surge in private school enrollment have all placed new pressures on public schools. This article examines 15 of the most pressing failures, updated with the latest data and examples, and provides a roadmap for parents and educators seeking context. The most visible failure is academic performance.

According to the 2024 NAEP “Nation’s Report Card,” 12th graders posted the lowest reading results in more than three decades, with over 30% unable to demonstrate basic proficiency. Math scores also plunged, with nearly half of students unable to perform fundamental operations (Reuters). This crisis affects college readiness, workforce preparation, and global competitiveness. As we outlined in our Private vs. Public Schools: 2025 Guide, many families are seeking alternatives due to these declines. WASHINGTON – Today, U.S.

Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, released a new report outlining ways to improve child literacy and fix the broken K-12 education system to better serve American children... According to the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) results, reading scores among 4th and 8th graders declined 2 points from 2022, and 5 points from 2019 pre-pandemic levels. The percent of students performing “below basic” in reading is at its highest point ever for 8th grade and highest point since 2000 for 4th grade. This report builds on Cassidy’s years-long effort to address declining child literacy in the United States. “Teaching students how to read effectively should be the top priority of America’s K-12 education system.

The challenges in achieving this points to a deeper problem: an education system that for too long has accepted a status quo that fails our children,” wrote Dr. Cassidy. “Every student is unique and has different learning needs. In medicine, we used to treat all people with cancer in the same manner with limited results. Now, we have specialized care for each type of cancer, dramatically improving patient outcomes. We need the same approach with improving literacy.”

“Improving student literacy is a crucial step in fixing our broken K-12 education system. It will be an all-hands-on-deck endeavor,” continued Dr. Cassidy. “Furthermore, parents’ rights must be protected. They must have a seat at the table and be equipped with the information necessary to ensure their child’s needs are met. Schools putting barriers between parents and their kids should not be tolerated.”

In the report, Cassidy underscores the devastating effects of illiteracy, including increasing rates of high school incompletion and incarceration. It also impacts our nation’s ability to fill STEM jobs, raising serious concerns about our global economic competitiveness, and worse, our military’s preparedness. On March 20, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that disbands the Department of Education and returns the authority over public education back to the state. The reason the order is endorsed points to the board and its workers’ inability to serve students’ academic progress in core areas such as English, math and science. Yet, just because something is not working does not mean that it should be eliminated. Instead, it should be altered.

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That’s $17,184 more than the average new teacher starting salary. NACE also shows that the field you choose matters when it comes to salary- no new information there for educators. More on that concern to come. For example, the same article indicates that a computer science major graduating with a Bachelor’s degree could expect to earn up to $95,000 upon first employment, $50,156 more than a teach...