According to recent reports, student academic performance in public schools has reached a 30-year low, with data showing significant declines in standardized test scores across various subjects attributed to learning disruptions caused by the pandemic and increased chronic absenteeism.
This decline is considered the worst in decades but public education spending in the United States falls short of global benchmarks and lags behind economic growth.
Lisa McCormick, one of New Jersey’s foremost progressive leaders, has called for universal access to free public education, emphasizing that a prosperous and powerful America is built upon the education of its people.
High school students’ scores on the ACT college admissions test last year dropped to their lowest in more than three decades, showing a lack of student preparedness for college-level coursework, according to the nonprofit organization that administers the test.
About 1.4 million students in the U.S. took the ACT in 2023. Of students who were tested, only 21% met benchmarks for success in college-level classes in all subjects.
Scores have been falling for six consecutive years, but the trend accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic.
McCormick warns that if the United States —“the richest and most powerful nation on the planet” —does not invest adequately in its future, it risks losing that position. Currently, U.S. public spending on education is falling short of the international benchmark established by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
As an outspoken advocate for social and economic justice, McCormick asserts that providing free education from early childhood through lifelong learning opportunities is critical to ensuring America’s future strength and stability.
“When we spend money providing free public education, we are investing in the future,” said McCormick, who earned 159,998 votes in the 2018 Democratic primary for U.S. Senate against disgraced former Senator Bob Menendez. “All Americans should have—without cost at the point of access—early childhood care programs, pre-K, elementary and high school, post-secondary education such as colleges, universities, and trade schools, plus an array of lifelong learning opportunities.”
Her commitment to education reflects her vision of preparing a “future-ready workforce” while uplifting teachers and supporting the mental health and academic needs of students.
“Teachers make every profession possible, but they are facing overwhelming challenges, from behavioral issues in classrooms to a national teacher shortage,” said McCormick. “Since COVID, teachers have gone above and beyond for their students, and while the pandemic is mostly behind us, the negative impacts on our students persist. We must support educators who remain steadfast, addressing both academic and mental health needs to ensure a brighter future.”
McCormick insists that a prosperous, stable America depends on educating its people comprehensively—from early childhood to lifelong learning opportunities.
The Jersey Journal once said McCormick “out progressives even former Democratic Party presidential candidate Bernie Sanders” and her stance on education underscores her belief in prioritizing people over profits.
She says that universal healthcare, expanded Social Security, and free public education are not just feasible, but essential. She proposes funding these essential services through a fair tax structure that reinstates higher contributions from ultra-wealthy individuals and corporations.
A veteran activist involved with organizations like Our Revolution, MoveOn.org, and Moms Demand Action for Gun Safety, McCormick has spent years fighting for a more equitable society.
McCormick’s call for reversing the economic trends initiated under President Reagan includes reversing policies she believes have driven American families into financial instability.
“America had 50 years of prosperity and a growing middle class before Reaganomics. We need to return to principles that reflect the New Deal, Great Society, and Share Our Wealth programs that lifted families up and built a thriving middle class,” McCormick explained. “We are all in this together, and we can restore the American Dream with policies based on these proven frameworks.”
Confident in her values but open to constructive ideas, McCormick is calling for more involvement in the political process and says she welcomes new ideas.
“It’s time for America to stop looking backward and to embrace a future that works for everyone,” said McCormick.
“The path is hard, the system is rigged against us, and our opponents have all the money. But we—the 99 percent—have the numbers. Together, we can create a new path to victory,” said McCormick, in a call to action for Americans who believe in a united future. “Everyone has agency to make a difference, and young people have the power to build a better world, so we should prepare and inspire them in every way we can.”
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