Teaching critical race theory, equity a ‘distraction’ from real education crisis: Expert

Originally Published on Fox News

Despite assertions from Democrats and the media, parents should be involved in their students education, said Ian Rowe of the American Enterprise Institute

A focus on teaching critical race theory and equity is a distraction from the poor literacy rate among America's students, said American Enterprise Institute senior fellow Ian Rowe. 

In 2019, only 35% of fourth graders performed at or above the proficient level on the National Assessment of Education Progress, one point lower than in 2017, but seven points higher than in 1992, the first year the test was administered. 

Among eighth graders, only 34% scored at or above proficient, three points lower than in 2017. Thirty-seven percent of twelfth graders performed at or above proficient. 

"One of the greatest trends in education that's very troubling that existed even before the pandemic is a national literacy crisis," Rowe told Fox News Digital at the Milken Institute 2022 Global Conference. "And yet we have these massive distractions around critical race theory and fights for equity." 

"Kids of all races in the entire history of the National Assessment for Educational Progress, we've never had a situation in which more than 44% of White students are reading at grade level," he added. "So we need a really focused attention on literacy, literacy, literacy."

To meet these education challenges, Rowe encouraged parents to get involved in their children’s education, exercise school choice, and engage with the schools in their community…