Educational Dysfunction

The most recent results from NAEP shows that educational performance has declined in every subject and every grade level measured. The question I have is: Why?

Accusations of systemic racism are pervasive throughout both our political and educational discussions, and is the only politically acceptable explanation for any disparity in outcomes. The right basically rejects that accusation, and instead comes up with their own reason for the gap, which typically explains away the gap by saying that white students simply work harder. The problem is that neither side can prove that
their explanation is correct. Statistics are not proof, and from the perspective of the right the left is not even attempting to research whatever root cause exists. What this creates is a system where potential solutions for the decline in educational performance cannot be seriously tried or tested due to accusations of bias by both sides. Only ineffective potential solutions are allowed.

It should not be controversial to point out that the gap persists despite enormous efforts on the part of schools and policy makers to reduce and attempt to eliminate this gap. In the past, one of the arguments was that the gap exists because majority minority schools receive less funding and support than majority white schools, and the policy response has been to increase funding for lower performing schools. Increased funding has not helped, so now there needs to be some other explanation for the persistent performance gap.