Why American students are falling behind in reading and maths and how ‘equity grading’ is making it worse

Despite record spending, US student performance is declining, with one-third of high school seniors lacking basic reading skills and 45% unable to perform simple maths. Forbes reports that “equity grading” policies — such as no penalties for missed work or unlimited test retakes — are contributing to this trend. A national survey found many teachers feel pressured to inflate grades. Critics argue these policies hide underachievement and weaken academic standards in US schools.