What's Really on Trump's Education Agenda?

When Donald Trump steps back into the spotlight, schools across America are still feeling the aftershocks of the pandemic. Students are struggling to catch up academically, with learning loss and absenteeism being big issues. But Trump isn't just focused on boosting test scores. He's got his eyes set on the culture war front, pushing for conservative policies like school choice and cracking down on "woke" policies in schools. Education experts are worried he's ignoring the real problems in schools.

"It's like he's more interested in waging a battle than actually helping kids learn, " said Morgan Scott Polikoff, a professor at USC. Trump's team hasn't shared any plans to tackle learning loss, even though data shows students are still behind. Experts are hoping for more focus on practical solutions, like project-based learning and after-school programs.

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