Tackling Today’s Issues in Education

New technologies like AI are transforming classrooms, yet these are only one part of the broader issues in education today. Teachers are leaving the profession in record numbers. Students are struggling to connect with their learning.

Mounting mental health crises. Career readiness gaps. A transformational step toward individualized learning.

The challenges are big—and so are the opportunities for change. These issues in education don’t just affect schools—they shape our economy, workforce, and communities. Addressing them provides an opportunity to improve how students learn and prepare for life.

What Are the Biggest Issues in Education?

Here’s a look at some of the biggest issues facing schools and educators today:

Artificial Intelligence

AI has burst into classrooms and homes, shaking up how we think about teaching and learning. Tools like ChatGPT and IBM’s Watson can help students brainstorm essays or solve complex math problems, while intelligent tutoring systems provide personalized lessons at home.

But here’s the flip side: AI also raises concerns about cheating, data privacy, and bias. If a bot can generate homework answers in seconds, how do teachers foster critical thinking and originality?¹ How can teachers discern what is a student’s original work and what is purely created by AI? Where’s the line? What are the implications?

Clearly, students need to learn to use AI efficiently and ethically, in the same way as generations before needed to learn how to appropriately use a calculator on a math test—or Google as a research tool. But finding and defining those patterns is tricky.

Schools are grappling with these questions, trying to figure out where AI can help—and where it might hurt.

To make AI work for education, we need smart policies, training for teachers, and tools that enhance (not replace) human teaching. It’s a powerful ally, but only if used wisely.

Competency-Based Education

For generations, schools have operated on seat time and calendars. If a student attends school and passes the mandated assessments, they move up to the next grade. But have they actually learned—and earned their way to the next level?

Not always. Students learn at individual paces, and more schools are shifting to a model that recognizes students’ unique needs.

Competency-Based Education (CBE) flips the script on traditional classrooms. Instead of locking everyone into a set timeline, CBE lets students progress at their own pace, mastering skills before moving on. It’s a huge win for personalized learning.²

But implementing CBE isn’t easy. It requires overhauling curriculums, retraining teachers, and ensuring all students have access to the resources they need. It’s promising, but there are still a lot of issues in education to figure out before this model becomes mainstream.

Teacher Shortages

The U.S. is in the middle of a teacher crisis, a major challenge facing education today. Low pay, overwhelming workloads, and tough conditions have driven many educators to leave the profession. Even worse, fewer people are entering the field in the first place.

The result? Schools are scrambling to fill classrooms, and students are feeling the impact. Class sizes get larger. Substitute teachers, or instructors who lack the credentials to teach specific subjects, end up filling the gaps. The quality of education drops, and over time, this makes schools a less appealing place to work. It creates a self-renewing negative cycle, one that needs to break.

Some districts are turning to technology to ease teachers’ workloads, and while that can help, nothing quite replaces a qualified, energized teacher who works with the students in person, every day. It’s clear we need long-term solutions—like better pay, improved working conditions, and more respect for this critical profession.³

Mental Health

Mental health challenges among students have skyrocketed. Anxiety, depression, and trauma are at all-time highs, and the pandemic only made things worse. According to recent data, 69% of public schools report rising mental health concerns, and demand for counseling services has surged.⁴

Addressing this issue means more than hiring school counselors. Schools need to embed mental health support into their daily routines—like social-emotional learning programs and training teachers to spot signs of distress. Knowing how to communicate sensitively with students, and when to refer them to counselors, social workers and other in-school support, is a vital start. Schools can, and must, be a safe and supportive place for kids and teens who are struggling,

Student Engagement

Let’s face it—keeping students engaged is tough. Distractions are everywhere, and many kids feel disconnected from what they’re learning.

The good news? Creative teaching methods and tech tools can help. AI-powered lesson plans, interactive games, and project-based learning are just a few ways teachers are capturing students’ attention.⁵ But the human element still matters most. Teachers who build strong relationships with students inspire them to stay curious and motivated.

It also inspires students to show up to school, which is an increasing challenge. The problem of chronic absenteeism is pervasive across schools, and while many solutions have been tried, it’s clear that creating a place where students want to be is an important start.

Career Readiness

When students graduate, they should be ready to step into a career or continue their education with confidence. But too often, schools focus more on standardized test scores than real-world skills, creating one of the most impactful issues in education: a lack of preparedness for life after school.

Career readiness programs are bridging this gap by teaching students technical skills, critical thinking, and adaptability. Internships, career fairs, and partnerships with local businesses can also give students hands-on experience and a clearer sense of their future paths.⁶ Apprenticeship programs give young adults an opportunity to learn skills on the job, essentially combining career and education into a singular experience.

ERA is especially passionate about this issue. That’s why our Life Discovery curriculum heavily incorporates career exploration as part of the class. We want every student to graduate with the tools they need to succeed—whether they’re heading to college or straight into the workforce.

Who Can Help Rectify These Issues?

Tackling the issues in education is a large and complex task involving many different entities. Below is a brief list of influential categories and a high-level overview of how each can play a role. (For a deeper dive, check out our article on the key players in education reform.)

Federal and State Governments

Our governments are our most obvious players. Many of the issues outlined above are funding- and support-related. In this critical season of political change, our government’s role in supporting our education system—and our children’s futures—is more important than ever.

School Districts

While school districts vary widely in funding, they have the power to adjust educational strategies to best meet the needs of their local students. This includes both curriculum offerings and before- or after-school programming, apprenticeship relationships with local businesses, building staff to support mental health guidance programs, and more.

Non-Profits and the Private Sector

Organizations taking active social interest in education can help conduct research to support the asks for change or advocate to school districts and governments on behalf of teachers and students. Other options include the organization taking on initial program or curriculum development to alleviate the burden on the system. This allows the non-profits to schools create change while districts and teachers also manage the heavy daily asks of their positions.

Higher Education

Knowing the expectations placed on college graduates, colleges can review their entrance criteria, advocating for more real-life skill before accepting students. This positive pressure can help influence both declining college enrollment rates and better student preparedness for entering the workforce after graduation.

What Can Solutions for These Issues in Education Look Like?

While solutions will vary from district to district, there are some overarching solution paths that could be incredibly beneficial in making large strides toward positive education reform.

Develop Comprehensive Systems at the State or Federal Level

Despite best efforts, many entities in the system of student support remain siloed. To better deliver student support, we need to rethink the system as a whole. How can we best provide the right resources for each school in a way that does not add burden onto the system?

This means we need to be ready to proactively work with schools that are struggling. Instead of punishing districts with low test scores with the threat of cutting funding, how can we ensure support in the deficient areas instead? If the school needs support with behavioral or mental health challenges, how can we ensure direct support for that school?

One path could be a centralized system at the state or federal level focused on providing targeted support for districts in need. Illinois, for example, implemented an evidence-based funding model in 2017, providing more equitable funding across districts and increasing investment in lower-income areas. Data on long-term implications is still being collected, but early reports are indicating improvements in opportunity in districts that were previously underfunded.⁷

Create Educational Policies to Empower Schools and Increase Engagement

American education has long struggled with rigidity and forced mandates. Another avenue to consider is creating policies that empower schools by providing flexibility. By focusing on innovative ideas to refresh educational policy can allow for a more holistic approach and potentially stronger outcomes.

Policy changes could include:

• Flexible use of funding so districts can tailor their investments to their specific needs.
• Implementation of a holistic accountability system that goes beyond just test scores and takes into account indicators like student engagement, social-emotional growth, and preparedness for life after high school.
• Reimagining schools as “community hubs” that provide programming for students and their families to increase engagement and strengthen community—like after-school camps and mental health support.
• Decreasing the amount of regulatory compliance paperwork so the administrative burden decreases, leaving more time and resources available for student success.

The goal for the ideas above and others like them center around empowerment over restriction. By giving the schools the tools they need to thrive, rather than restricting their ability to innovate, we can begin to close achievement gaps and start fostering long-term success

Conclusion

The American education system is at a crossroads, facing significant challenges that require thoughtful and innovative solutions. Integrating AI, adopting competency-based education, addressing teacher recruitment and retention, supporting student mental health, and enhancing engagement are critical areas that demand attention. By embracing a holistic approach that considers the complexities of each issue, educators and policymakers can work towards creating an educational environment that is equitable, effective, and responsive to the needs of all students.

Education isn’t just about schools—it’s about all of us. Parents, policymakers, business leaders, and community members have a stake in solving these challenges. So here’s your call to action: Get involved. What do you think are the most pressing issues in education today? Advocate for policies that support teachers and students. Most importantly, stay informed about these critical issues.

We invite you to join us in transforming American education. Contact us to get involved and help us equip students with the tools, guidance, and support they need to thrive in today’s world—whatever challenges they may face. Together, we can create an education system that works for every student—and builds a stronger future for all of us.

References

1. Kang, J. C. (2024, August 30). Does A.I. really encourage cheating in schools? The New Yorker. https://www.newyorker.com/news/fault-lines/does-ai-really-encourage-cheating-in-schools ↩︎
2. Cardona, M., Rodriguez, R., & Ishmael, K. (n.d.). Artificial Intelligence and the future of teaching and … Office of Educational Technology. https://www.ed.gov/sites/ed/files/documents/ai-report/ai-report.pdf ↩︎
3. Barnum, M. (n.d.). Teachers are burning out on the job. The Wall Street Journal. https://www.wsj.com/us-news/education/teachers-america-burn-out-b2cc2a51 ↩︎
4. James, W. (2024, November 1). K-12 education: Transforming Public Education for a changing world. Center for American Progress. https://www.americanprogress.org/article/a-progressive-vision-for-education-in-the-21st-century/k-12-education-transforming-public-education-for-a-changing-world/ ↩︎
5. Kerr-Heraly, L. (2024, December 20). Expanding how we think about classroom participation. Edutopia. https://www.edutopia.org/article/giving-students-more-ways-participate ↩︎
6. Schwartz, S. (2024, October 22). The way schools offer CTE classes is about to change. Here’s how. Education Week. https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/the-way-schools-offer-cte-classes-is-about-to-change-heres-how/2024/10 ↩︎
7. Illinois State Board of Education Research and Evaluation Center. (2022). Illinois Evidence-Based Funding Formula Five-Year Evaluation. Illinois State Board of Education. https://www.isbe.net/Documents/PRP-5-Year-Eval-Study-Report-2022.pdf ↩︎