Recent national test results reveal significant declines in 12th graders’ reading and math skills, marking the lowest scores in decades and raising concerns about the future workforce’s preparedness. College professors report students exhibit reduced stamina for complex reading, requiring remedial courses even in selective institutions. The deterioration, partly attributed to pandemic disruptions and increased screen time, threatens sectors including the military and technical trades. Experts emphasize that these trends could impact economic competitiveness, as the U.S. lags behind other industrialized nations in math proficiency and struggles to elevate lower-performing students to functional skill levels essential for an AI-driven economy.