Parent activists feel ‘ignored’ after education snubbed in presidential debate

Parent activists expressed frustration after K-12 education was left out of Tuesday’s presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. Despite covering key issues like immigration and the economy, education—especially the growing literacy crisis—was ignored. Sarah Carpenter of the parent advocacy nonprofit Memphis Lift called it a “missed opportunity,” stressing that the country’s literacy challenges should be front and center. Recent data shows reading scores for fourth and eighth graders have dropped since 2019. Other advocates, including Michele Exner of Parents Defending Education, echoed these concerns, urging candidates to prioritize education, especially as it remains a top issue for parents nationwide.