Recent reports highlight alarming trends in U.S. education, with declines in national reading, math, and science scores, especially among high school seniors. The NAEP tests reveal that many students are struggling academically post-pandemic, with significant deterioration in literacy and numeracy over the past decade. Education advocates express concerns about the implications of these trends on the future workforce and the need for reforms to address systemic issues such as teacher shortages and inadequate instructional methods. Many articles suggest that problems existed long before the COVID-19 closures, emphasizing the urgency for innovative solutions and alternative standards in education.