Is the Public School System Still Serving Our Children—or Someone Else’s Agenda?
For decades, American families trusted the public education system to teach reading, writing, and math—while reinforcing structure, virtue, and truth. But today, something has changed. And it’s more than just falling test scores or teacher shortages.
Across the country, schools are eliminating deadlines, inflating grades, and suppressing parental input. In many places, ideological agendas have crept into the curriculum under the radar. Even more troubling? These shifts were not voted in by local communities—they were driven by unelected billionaires and federal incentives.
This blog introduces a 10-part investigative series. Each post will expose a critical area of failure, offer real data and testimony, and point to Christ-centered responses for families of faith.
A Quick Look: The 10-Part Series
- The Erosion of Academic Standards—and the Fight to Restore Them
- From Ideology to Pushback: The Curriculum Battlefield
- Parental Rights Under Pressure—And Being Reclaimed
- Youth Mental Health Collapse
- Unsafe Environments & Violence
- Technology Abuse & School Vandalism
- Chronic Absenteeism & Disengagement
- Top-Down Control vs. Local Freedom: Who Really Leads?
- Budget Cuts & Mismanagement
- The Moral Void in Schools—and the Return of Virtue
The Role of Billionaire Influence and Federal Incentives
In 2009, the Gates Foundation invested over $200 million into the promotion of Common Core—a national set of standards adopted by 45 states. This rollout was supported by “Race to the Top” grants, which offered $4.35 billion in incentives to states willing to comply with federal mandates (Philanthropy Roundtable).
What followed was a sweeping shift in how students were taught and tested:
- Literature replaced by informational texts
- Grading centralized through state databases
- Math mastery replaced by conceptual frameworks
These changes were implemented with limited public debate and often bypassed parent and teacher input.
The Trump Administration: A Turning Point—But Not the End of the Fight
In recent years, the Trump administration has taken bold steps to reverse several of these trends. Through Executive Order 14190, gender ideology and critical race theory are now banned in federally funded K–12 classrooms (“Executive Order 14190”). The 1776 Commission has been reinstated to promote values-based, patriotic education. Federal investigations into violations of Title IX and parental notification rights have also begun.
These reforms offer hope—but they are not permanent. A single election or administration change could reverse course. In many districts, ideological materials and policies remain in place, either through local resistance or prior contracts.
For example, school systems in California and New York have continued to implement gender ideology curriculum standards and staff training despite federal pushback. Multiple lawsuits are underway involving parents who claim their rights were ignored when schools facilitated social transitions for their children without notification.
Recent Data Highlights the Crisis
- According to the CDC, 42% of high school students reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in 2023.
- The National Center for Education Statistics reported that chronic absenteeism increased by more than 30% between 2019 and 2023.
- Pew Research Center found that 61% of U.S. parents are dissatisfied with how schools are handling discipline and student behavior.
These numbers tell a clear story: the system isn’t just flawed—it’s failing millions of children.
Real Testimonies, Real Impact
A public school teacher in California shared anonymously:
“We were told to stop giving zeros—even if the student never turned in the work.”
A parent in Texas reported:
“My daughter was taught about gender identity without my knowledge or permission.”
According to Pew Research Center, over 40% of parents say they have been excluded from key decisions about their child’s education (Pew Research Center).
Biblical Perspective: Raising Children in Truth
As followers of Christ, we are not called to conform to broken systems. We are called to raise children in the truth of God’s Word.
“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.” — Proverbs 22:6
“These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road.” — Deuteronomy 6:6–7
Even if the school system fails to uphold morality, parents and guardians can still build strong foundations at home.
Why This Series Matters
As parents, we must understand that while some progress is being made, the public education system remains volatile. Federal policies may change—but the core of the system is still broken in many places.
Now is the time for faithful families to:
- Ask questions
- Speak up at local school boards
- Explore alternatives to the current system
- Instill biblical truth and virtue at home
This series is not about fear. It’s about faith-fueled preparation.
Start the Journey With Us
Each part of this series includes:
- Factual analysis from news sources and government data
- Testimony from real families
- Scriptural guidance for a godly response
- Free downloads and curriculum support
This is not just a commentary. It’s a call to protect your child’s mind and soul.
Start Today: Protect Your Child’s Mind and Soul
Here are tools to get started:
This Week’s Freebie: Free eBook: Parent’s Guide to Education Reform
What’s Next?
In Part 1: The Collapse of Academic Standards, you’ll discover how schools have replaced deadlines with loopholes, removed accountability from grading, and rewarded students for non-performance—all while test scores and motivation plummet.
You’ll also see how top-down mandates and donor-driven reforms created these outcomes—not careless teachers or bad kids.
Works Cited (MLA Format)
“Executive Order 14190.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia, 10 May 2025. www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Executive_Order_14190.
McGarvey, Maddie. “A Look at Homeschooling in the U.S.” Pew Research Center, 20 Feb. 2025. www.pewresearch.org.
National Center for Education Statistics. “Press Release: Instruction at Home in the 2022–23 School Year.” 17 Sept. 2024.
National Center for Education Statistics. “Chronic Absenteeism Dashboard.” 5 Mar. 2025. www.nces.ed.gov.
Philanthropy Roundtable. “Common Core State Standards.” www.philanthropyroundtable.org.
“Race to the Top.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia, 10 May 2025. www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_to_the_Top.
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data Summary & Trends Report.” 13 Feb. 2024. www.cdc.gov.
Pew Research Center. “Parents’ Views on K–12 Education and Public Schools.” 3 Jan. 2025. www.pewresearch.org.
🙌 – 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.