This month, the National Center for Education Statistics released results from the 2017 National Assessment of Educational Progress.  It is an assessment of American students in the core subjects of reading and math.

Disappointingly, American students showed no improvement. What’s worse: the lowest performers fell even further behind.

Minnesota is no different.  We generally perform better than others, but our state’s scores remained nearly flat.

As this pattern of stagnation continues, government spending on education has surged. In fact, since 2002, federal funding for education has increased from $50 billion to $68 billion, or 36 percent. Per student spending nationwide has also greatly increased since 2002.

Billions of dollars for zero changes. The math doesn’t add up.

Washington’s top-down, one-size-fits-all “solution” isn’t working. Clearly, we need a different approach.

The federal government needs to have less say in education policy. Instead, it should empower the states to use innovative ways, like online classes, customized learning options and charter schools, to give students the knowledge they will need to be successful in life. We should also empower parents with the opportunity to choose an effective education for their children.

Every parent wants their child to succeed. As parents, Jacquie and I know this feeling well – seven times over.

For all of our students, we can – and must – do better.