America’s public schools are under attack, and the enemy is Marxist ideology masquerading as progressive education. In states like Illinois, this infiltration is no longer a theory—it’s a documented crisis stealing opportunities from our children, fracturing families, and dismantling academic standards. Parents, educators, and lawmakers must rise up to reclaim education from this ideological takeover.

Take Illinois as ground zero. In February 2023, the Daily Caller exposed a shocking reality: 55 Chicago public schools reported zero students proficient in math or reading. Zero.

This isn’t an isolated failure—it’s a symptom of a system prioritizing ideology over academics. The latest 2024 NAEP data confirms the trend, with 70% of U.S. 8th graders, including just 39% in Illinois, failing to read at grade-level proficiency. Meanwhile, the state’s Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading Standards, debated since 2021, push Marxist-inspired critical theory, urging students as young as third grade to “be aware of power, privilege, and inequity” and engage in activism.

This isn’t teaching—it’s indoctrination, diverting precious time from mastering reading and math.

A glaring example hit Wilmette, Illinois, earlier this year. On March 10, 2025 I shared on the X social media platform how one of Wilmette’s public elementary schools read 4th graders “It Feels Good to be Yourself,” a book exploring transgender identity and gender fluidity. The controversy sparked outrage, with parents questioning why complex, divisive topics were introduced to 8- and 9-year-olds while 70% of Illinois 4th graders struggle to read proficiently, per NAEP data. This mirrors national trends—schools in Florida and Texas faced similar backlash in 2024 over transgender-themed materials.

By focusing on ideology, schools neglect evidence-based reading instruction, leaving kids like those in Chicago’s failing districts with no foundation for success.

Families bear the brunt. In Troy, Illinois, parents are fighting curricula like the Teachers College Reading Workshop, which leaves only 61% of students reading proficiently. Diverse learners—labeled “disabled” or facing systemic barriers—lose critical support as resources shift to ideological goals. These families aren’t just upset about test scores; they’re desperate to secure their children’s futures against a system that prioritizes politics over progress.

Marxist frameworks, with their collectivist bent, further erode parental rights, dismissing advocates like myself as “a small group” while school boards push ahead with unvetted materials. This echoes a 2025 nationwide surge in parental pushback, with school board elections reflecting growing distrust.

Academic standards are crumbling under this weight. Equity-focused activism, a Marxist hallmark, replaces rigor with feel-good narratives. When Wilmette’s 4th graders are taught to question their gender identity instead of decoding words, they’re unprepared for real-world challenges. Illinois’ lagging 39% 8th-grade reading proficiency—below the national average—proves this approach fails. Over 35 million U.S. 8th graders struggling to read is a systemic collapse, not a fluke, driven by curricula that value ideology over outcomes.

So, what’s the solution? Parents, educators, and lawmakers must act with urgency.

For Parents: Organize and fight back.

Join forces with advocates like me to demand transparent, evidence-based curricula focused on reading, math, and critical thinking. Attend school board meetings, scrutinize materials like the Wilmette book, and support candidates who prioritize kids over ideology. The 2024 expansion of the ‘Science of Reading’ approaches, which boosted proficiency in states like Mississippi, shows what’s possible when parents demand better.

For Educators: Reject the ideological script. Push for training in Structured Literacy methods, countering the Marxist mandates creeping into Educator Preparation Programs. The 2025 EPP guidelines update offers a chance to prioritize practical skills over theory—seize it. Teachers can lead the charge.

For Lawmakers: Take bold action. Overhaul EPPs to focus on evidence-based training, enforce IDEA compliance to support diverse learners, and pass laws protecting parental rights. The 2025 White House education freedom initiative, emphasizing local control, is a start—build on it with funding tied to academic results, not ideological agendas. Scrutinize every dollar flowing to districts like Chicago that fail our kids.

The Marxist infiltration of our schools isn’t a conspiracy—it’s a crisis, with Illinois’ Chicago schools and the Wilmette incident as glaring proof. We can’t accept zero proficiency or eroded parental rights as “normal.” This chaos is a deliberate distraction, exhausting families while dismantling rigor. It’s time to demand education that empowers students, respects parents, and upholds standards. Our children’s future—and America’s—hangs in the balance. Let’s fight for it!