The once-vibrant cities and states under liberal leadership are now in shambles. Prosperity and opportunity have been replaced by crime, crumbling infrastructure, and fleeing residents.

Progressive policies, championed by far-left Democrats, have wreaked havoc on these regions. Cities like San Francisco, Portland, and Chicago have become cautionary tales of what happens when ideology trumps common sense. The trend isn’t slowing down—it’s speeding up.

Even after a crushing defeat in the last election, Democrats seem oblivious. Instead of adjusting course, they’re doubling down on the same policies that drove their voters to the exits. Their latest move?

Lowering the standards for teachers to a point so ridiculous, it’s almost funny—if it weren’t your child’s education on the line. Yes, in at least one blue state, they’ve decided the best way to fix their problems is by ensuring the people teaching your kids don’t even need basic qualifications. Brilliant, right?

From Daily Caller:
A New Jersey law that removes a requirement for teachers to pass a reading, writing and mathematics test for certification will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2025…

Individuals seeking an instructional certificate will no longer need to pass a “basic skills” test administered by the state’s Commissioner of Education.

“We need more teachers,” Democratic Sen. Jim Beach, who sponsored the bill, said according to the New Jersey Monitor. “This is the best way to get them.”

New Jersey’s New Low: Teachers Without Basic Skills

In New Jersey, starting in 2025, aspiring teachers will no longer have to pass a reading, writing, or math test to become certified. That’s right—teachers who can’t do math could soon be teaching your kids algebra.

This baffling new law, Act 1669, was signed by Democratic Governor Phil Murphy as part of the state’s 2025 budget. The excuse? A teacher shortage. But instead of addressing the root causes—like burdensome bureaucracy or toxic union politics—they’ve decided to just lower the bar.

“We need more teachers,” said Democratic State Senator Jim Beach, one of the bill’s sponsors. “This is the best way to get them.”

Sure, Jim. Because nothing says “quality education” like teachers who may not know how to read the lesson plan.

New Jersey, like many other blue states, has been struggling to find enough teachers, especially in math and science. But rather than fix the systemic issues, they’ve chosen to bulldoze the standards.

Teachers’ unions, of course, love this idea. The powerful New Jersey Education Association called the testing requirement “an unnecessary barrier.” Maybe because nothing kills the dream of union dues like expecting teachers to prove they’re competent.

Follow the Leader: Blue States Race to the Bottom

New Jersey isn’t the first to make this move. New York scrapped its literacy requirements for teachers back in 2017, citing “diversity” as the rationale. California and Arizona have followed suit, creating fast-track options for substitute teachers to become full-time educators.

In Massachusetts, they’ve gone even further—lowering testing standards for students to make up for pandemic learning losses. You can’t make this stuff up.

It’s not like these states are strapped for cash, either. New York spends almost twice the national average on education, yet only about half of its students in grades three through eight are proficient in English and math.

Meanwhile, New York’s teachers are among the highest-paid in the country. Where’s all that money going? Certainly not toward better outcomes for students.

Unions Reign Supreme, Kids Fall Behind

At the heart of this mess are the teachers’ unions. They have enormous power in blue states and use it to protect their interests—whether or not it benefits students.

They lobby for policies that ensure job security for teachers, even those who aren’t meeting basic standards. And they’ve fought hard to lower the bar for teacher certification.

The pandemic exposed just how much sway these unions have. They kept schools closed for far longer than necessary, worsening learning losses that kids are still struggling to recover from.

Now, instead of working to close that gap, states like New Jersey are making it easier for underqualified teachers to step into classrooms. It’s like throwing gasoline on a fire and wondering why it’s getting worse.

What’s at Stake?

Let’s not sugarcoat this. Lowering teacher standards will hurt students, especially in disadvantaged communities. These kids are already playing catch-up after years of school closures.

They need more qualified teachers, not fewer. But under these policies, the most vulnerable students will fall even further behind. And as blue states like New Jersey continue to lower the bar, the message is clear: your child’s education comes second to union demands and political expediency.

Meanwhile, red states are watching and shaking their heads. In Florida and Texas, leaders are focusing on raising standards and giving parents more control over education. The contrast couldn’t be starker. Blue states are racing to the bottom, while red states aim for the top.

Key Takeaways:

• Blue states are lowering teacher standards. New Jersey will no longer require basic skills tests for teacher certification starting in 2025.
• Unions are driving these changes. Teachers’ unions have lobbied to eliminate testing requirements, calling them “unnecessary barriers.”
• Students are the real losers. Lower standards mean fewer qualified teachers and more struggling kids.

Source: Daily Caller