Education Advocate Yiatin Chu Cites Alarming Signs of Decline in US School System

Education activist Yiatin Chu has drawn attention to what she describes as significant declines in the American education system, sharing an excerpt from an article detailing issues such as grade inflation, weakened curricula, and altered admissions standards. Chu, a prominent advocate for merit-based education, posted the excerpt on social media, sparking discussion on the state of schools.

The shared content, attributed to an article titled "The Signs of Educational Decline Are Now Impossible to Ignore" from dnyuz.com, highlights several concerns. It suggests that "Parents opposed standardized testing, got their kids disability diagnoses that allowed them extra time on tests and lobbied teachers to change bad grades." The article further claims that "Exhausted teachers responded with grade inflation, which also helped conceal that low-income and minority kids weren’t doing as well as their richer and White peers."

The excerpt also criticizes "Progressive educators" for allegedly "water[ing] down curriculums, gut[ting] gifted and talented programs, and weaken[ing] admissions standards for honors classes and magnet schools." It notes that "Colleges dropped standardized testing requirements, in part because that made it easier to diversify their student body." Chu's tweet emphasized her belief that "We are finally speaking truth about what’s been happening in education and not afraid of being called racists."

Yiatin Chu, a co-founder of PLACE NYC (Parent Leaders for Accelerated Curriculum and Education) and Asian Wave Alliance, has been a vocal proponent for rigorous academic standards and the preservation of programs like the Specialized High School Admissions Test (SHSAT) in New York City. She ran for the New York State Senate in 2024, advocating for policies that support merit-based education and public safety. Her activism often critiques what she views as progressive policies that undermine educational quality.

Chu's stance aligns with a broader movement advocating for transparency and accountability in educational outcomes, particularly concerning standardized testing and gifted programs. Her work has focused on empowering parents and advocating for policies she believes will ensure high-quality education for all students, reflecting concerns about equity and academic rigor.