Rep. Quentin Chapman, R-Auburn, is serving his first term as the representative for District 88, which includes part of Auburn.

I respectfully disagree with Rep. Marc Malon’s assertion in his Aug. 22 article (“Reaffirming a commitment to Maine’s students“) that Republican efforts to reform education, such as reducing federal spending and shrinking the U.S. Department of Education, undermine America’s education system.

While Rep. Malon praises Maine’s initiatives like free community college for the class of 2025 and increased funding for public institutions as ways to reaffirm commitment to students, the broader evidence indicates that the U.S. education system has stagnated or declined since the establishment of the Department of Education in 1979.

Federal overreach has contributed to this, with too much classroom time diverted to subjects like social issues and climate change advocacy, often at the expense of core academic skills.

Instead of more centralized funding, reforms like school choice could foster competition and improve quality for all students. 

Data from the Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies reveals that U.S. adult literacy (16-65) has since fallen further behind its international peers. The U.S. ranks 12th in international adult literacy among advanced democracies, with younger generations performing worse.

Program for International Student Assessment data places the U.S. at 38th in math and 24th in reading as of 2022, while National Assessment of Educational Progress scores have declined, with only 27% of eighth graders proficient in math in 2024. These trends suggest that federal involvement has not improved outcomes, despite increased spending, and has instead led to bureaucratic mandates that prioritize non-academic agendas over local control.

A focus on accessibility, such as free meals and community college, is commendable but overlooks how quality suffers when schools emphasize social issues and climate change as ideological imperatives rather than balanced topics.

Research indicates that high-stakes environments and external pressures can increase student stress, leading to worse academic outcomes. For example, overemphasizing grades and non-core priorities transforms education into a source of unrelenting stress, reducing engagement in foundational subjects like math and reading.

While social-emotional learning programs can enhance well-being when integrated thoughtfully, studies show mixed results, and public concerns persist that excessive focus on social activism detracts from academic rigor.

In places like Portland, Oregon, students have reported climate education dominating curricula at the expense of practical skills, potentially contributing to disengagement and proficiency gaps. To address these issues, school choice — through vouchers, charter schools, and open enrollment — offers a proven way to improve education quality by encouraging schools to compete for tax dollars.

Empirical studies demonstrate that such competition leads positive effects on student achievement, particularly from voucher programs, with the greatest benefits for minority students. For instance, charter school competition has raised test scores in district schools, incentivizing public institutions to enhance academic performance to retain students, increase school safety and improve parental satisfaction.

Research from programs like Milwaukee’s vouchers shows improved outcomes in both private and public schools due to competitive pressures, fostering innovation and higher standards overall.

In Maine, expanding school choice could empower parents in communities like Biddeford to select schools focused on core skills, ultimately benefiting all by driving public schools to prioritize academic excellence over ideological mandates.

Maine’s students deserve reforms that reverse decades of federal-driven stagnation. Rather than defending the status quo, I urge everyone to support decentralization, balanced curricula and school choice to ensure every child receives a high-quality education to prepare them for real-world success.