Madi Biedermann | Nearly Half of High School Seniors Below Basic in Reading & Math

Steve is joined by Madi Biedermann, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Communications at the U.S. Department of Education, to break down the newly released Nation’s Report Card results for 8th grade science and 12th grade reading and math.

Secretary of Education Linda McMahon has called the latest scores “devastating,” noting that nearly half of America’s high school seniors are testing below basic levels in reading and math. Despite billions spent each year, the achievement gap is widening and U.S. students are falling further behind just as they prepare for higher education, the workforce, or the military.

Madi and Steve discuss what these results mean for the future of education, why spending more money hasn’t solved the problem, and how returning control to the states could be the key to driving innovation and closing the gap. The conversation underscores the urgency of preparing students to read proficiently, think critically, and solve complex problems in order to keep America globally competitive.