Yet something curious has happened in these debates. The conversation often begins with the assumption that the greatest danger to education is technological disruption. Rarely does it begin by examining the failures already present in the system. This is a remarkable oversight.

Every year, millions of students pass through schools that struggle to meet their needs. Achievement gaps persist. Opportunity gaps persist. Teacher burnout remains widespread. Chronic absenteeism continues to rise. Student engagement remains alarmingly low in many communities. The 2024 Gallup Student Poll found that only about half of students report feeling engaged in school on a daily basis (Gallup, 2024). Meanwhile, the National Center for Education Statistics continues to document persistent disparities in academic outcomes linked to race, class, language status, zip code, and dis/ability (NCES, 2024). Yet few people describe these realities as existential threats.

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