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Under Democratic Governor Phil Murphy, New Jersey recently passed Act 1669, a misguided law that eliminates the requirement for aspiring teachers to pass the Praxis Core Test. This basic skills test, covering reading, writing, and math, was a standard measure of competency for educators. As of January 2025, New Jersey has decided that ensuring teachers meet even the most fundamental qualifications is no longer necessary.

The rationale? A severe teacher shortage. “We need more teachers. This is the best way to get them,” said Democratic State Senator Jim Beach, who sponsored the bill. But at what cost? Rather than addressing the real issues behind the shortage—such as poor retention, lack of respect for the profession, and burdensome bureaucracy—the state has chosen to lower the bar entirely. And taxpayers, who already fund one of the most expensive public education systems in the nation, are left wondering: This is what we’re paying for?

This isn’t just a New Jersey problem; it’s emblematic of a broader national crisis. Americans pay some of the highest taxes in the world, and yet the quality of public services we receive often doesn’t reflect that investment. From crumbling infrastructure to overwhelmed healthcare systems to failing public schools, it seems we’re constantly being asked to contribute more while expecting less in return. Education, one of the most critical pillars of our society, is no exception.

In New Jersey, the public education system consumes billions in taxpayer funding annually. Yet, instead of raising standards and ensuring that every dollar is spent on quality instruction and resources for students, the state has decided that the solution is to make it easier to become a teacher. Removing the Praxis Core Test doesn’t solve the underlying problems—it exacerbates them. What kind of message does it send to students when the adults teaching them might not even meet basic competency standards?

This race to the bottom isn’t unique to New Jersey. Across the country, states are grappling with teacher shortages, and many are adopting similarly short-sighted policies. These decisions undermine the quality of education and set a dangerous precedent. If we can’t demand excellence in our schools, where can we demand it? And if we’re willing to compromise on something as fundamental as the qualifications of our teachers, what does that say about our priorities as a nation?

Americans are tired of paying top dollar for mediocre—or worse, failing—services. We see it in our infrastructure, with roads and bridges in disrepair despite massive spending. We see it in healthcare, where costs are astronomical, yet outcomes often lag behind other developed nations. And we see it in education, where billions are poured into the system, only for students to graduate unprepared for the workforce or higher education.

Act 1669 is a glaring example of this national trend. Instead of addressing systemic issues—like why teachers are leaving the profession in droves or why young people aren’t entering the field—New Jersey has opted for a band-aid solution that sacrifices quality for convenience. And just like with so many other public services, taxpayers are left to foot the bill for a system that delivers less and less.

It’s time for leaders, not just in New Jersey but across the country, to stop taking the easy way out. Lowering standards isn’t the answer—raising them is. Instead of making it easier to become a teacher, we should be making it a profession of prestige, one that attracts the best and brightest with competitive pay, robust training, and meaningful support. And instead of throwing money at broken systems, we need to demand accountability for how those dollars are spent.

Americans deserve better. We deserve schools that prepare our kids for the future, roads and bridges that are safe and reliable, and healthcare that doesn’t bankrupt families. Most importantly, we deserve to see a return on the investment we make through our taxes. Until we start holding our leaders accountable, we’ll continue to see policies like Act 1669—policies that sell out our kids, waste our money, and leave us asking why we’re paying so much for so little.

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