Part 1 of 10 | What’s Really Going On in America’s Public Schools?
🎓 “We don’t give zeros anymore.”
If you’ve heard a teacher say that—or your child’s report card seems mysteriously full of A’s despite incomplete work—you’re not imagining things.
Public education in America has changed.
Across districts, administrators are removing late penalties, dropping GPA requirements, and implementing policies that force teachers to pass students—whether they’ve earned it or not.
This is not the school system many of us grew up in.
And for families of faith who value character, accountability, and excellence—it’s a growing concern.
📉 What Does the Data Say?
-
In 2023, 23% of 8th graders scored below basic in reading
(National Center for Education Statistics) -
In many urban districts, more than half of students are promoted despite failing benchmarks
-
Schools in states like California, Oregon, and Illinois have eliminated D and F grades altogether
-
Grade inflation is at an all-time high—even while standardized test scores continue to fall
It’s not just a “pandemic problem.”
It’s a policy problem—and it began long before 2020.
🏛️ Where Did This Come From?
In 2009, the Gates Foundation invested over $200 million into the development and promotion of Common Core State Standards. These standards were incentivized by federal Race to the Top grants, offering up to $4.35 billion to states that complied.
But with this centralized rollout came:
-
The removal of local grading autonomy
-
A shift from literature to informational texts
-
Math assessments that prioritize “conceptual discussion” over fluency
-
Standardized benchmarks that discouraged creativity and critical thinking
Many educators and parents were never consulted. The result?
A system where compliance matters more than mastery.
🧑🏫 What Teachers Are Saying
A veteran teacher in California shared:
“We’re told not to give zeros—even if a student turns nothing in. It’s called ‘equitable grading.’”
A middle school math teacher in Texas explained:
“If I give too many low grades, I’m told to ‘reassess my expectations.’ It’s all about optics now.”
🚩 Why It Matters for Christian Families
As believers, we understand that:
-
Work matters.
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord…” (Colossians 3:23) -
Accountability matters.
“Each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.” (Romans 14:12) -
Truth matters.
“A false balance is an abomination to the Lord…” (Proverbs 11:1)
When grades no longer reflect effort—and students are rewarded for non-performance—children learn that standards don’t matter.
That’s not just bad for academics.
It’s dangerous for character formation.
🔍 Real Policy Changes That Fuel the Decline
-
No-Zero Policies
Students can submit work late—with no penalty—or not at all, and still pass. -
Standards-Based Grading
Shifts assessment from knowledge to skill estimates. Often subjective and easily inflated. -
Equity-Based Reform
Grades are adjusted to remove “inequities” in outcomes, rather than improving instruction. -
Automatic Promotion
Many districts have policies that automatically advance students—regardless of performance.
🙅♀️ “But Isn’t This Helping Struggling Students?”
That’s the justification.
But in reality, students—especially those from low-income or underserved communities—are being shortchanged. They’re passed along without mastery, labeled “proficient” on paper but unprepared for real life.
Colleges are noticing.
Employers are noticing.
And most of all… parents are noticing.
🧭 What Can Christian Families Do?
You don’t have to accept a broken grading system. You don’t have to let your child be pulled along in a system that rewards mediocrity and punishes excellence.
You can respond with wisdom—and action.
🏫 How HeroesMart Academy Can Help
At HeroesMart Academy, we partner with parents who want more than just test prep.
We help you:
-
Build a biblical foundation in your child’s education
-
Teach excellence, diligence, and accountability
-
Reinforce spiritual values while pursuing academic growth
-
Transition into homeschooling without stress
We don’t inflate grades.
We don’t cut corners.
We help you raise resilient, Christ-centered thinkers who know how to apply truth in a confused world.
✝️ The Restoration Starts at Home
“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” — Proverbs 22:6
“Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance.” — Proverbs 1:5
If schools are lowering the bar, we must raise it at home.
With prayer. With discipline. With Scripture.
And with a plan.
🛠️ Part 1 Toolkit
✅ Free “Homework with Integrity” worksheet
✅ Bible-based study tracker
✅ Full printable transcript of this post
✅ Sign up for our weekly “Education Watch” email
👉 Download your free eBook: Parent’s Guide to Education Reform
👉 Join Our Community on Facebook
👉 Explore HeroesMart Academy Curriculum
📍 Coming Next: Part 2
In Part 2, we tackle the curriculum battlefield—and uncover how gender ideology and CRT are being embedded into your child’s lessons… even at the elementary level.
Spoiler: It’s worse than you think.
But you’re not powerless.
📚 Works Cited (MLA Format)
Gates, Bill. Teaching and Learning Conference Speech. Gates Foundation, 14 Mar. 2014, www.gatesfoundation.org/ideas/speeches/2014/03/bill-gates-teaching-and-learning-conference.
“Common Core State Standards.” Philanthropy Roundtable, www.philanthropyroundtable.org/home/page/common-core-state-standards.
National Center for Education Statistics. “Nation’s Report Card: 2023 Reading and Math Assessments.” NCES, U.S. Department of Education, 2023, www.nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard.
“Race to the Top.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 10 May 2025, www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_to_the_Top.
McGarvey, Maddie. “What Parents Are Seeing Inside Public Schools.” Pew Research Center, 20 Feb. 2025, www.pewresearch.org.
“Why Grade Inflation Is a Problem.” EdWeek, Editorial Projects in Education, 14 Apr. 2024, www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/why-grade-inflation-is-a-problem.
🙌 – Mrs. Nita | HeroesMart Academy
Mrs. Nita is co-founder of HeroesMart Academy, co-creator of Godly Learners curriculum and lead instructor at https://www.youtube.com/@HeroesMartHomeschoolAcademy. When she’s not building homeschool content, you can find her enjoying time with her husband and four little ones.