President Trump inherited a school system reeling from Biden’s border policies, and now the consequences are clear. The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) dropped its 2024 Nation’s Report Card data in January, showing reading scores plummeting nationwide. A Daily Caller News Foundation analysis points to a key factor: a dramatic rise in non-English speaking students.

The NAEP numbers don’t lie. Fourth-grade reading scores fell two points from 2022, hitting lows not seen since 2005, while eighth-graders dropped two points to levels last recorded in 1992. English learners—students not fluent in English—scored worse than every other group, with 79 percent below basic reading skills in fourth grade.

This isn’t a small problem. English learners in K-12 schools jumped from 8.1 percent in 2000 to over 10 percent by 2022, with states like Texas and California seeing shares as high as 20 percent and 18 percent. Posts on X from parents and educators scream what the data whispers: classrooms are swamped, and kids are sinking.

Trump’s already on it. He declared a border emergency January 20, sent troops to the wall, and restarted construction to choke off illegal crossings—down from Biden’s 10,000 daily to 300 now. Conservatives say it’s not enough; interior deportations lag, leaving schools to drown in the fallout.

The stats back up the crisis. Among fourth-graders, 60 percent of low-income kids and 78 percent of disabled students scored below basic—bad, but English learners hit 79 percent. Eighth-grade gaps are wider: 67 percent of poor kids underperformed, 85 percent of disabled, and a staggering 87 percent of English learners. Teachers can’t keep up.

Border states feel it worst. Texas, California, Arizona, New Mexico—their NAEP scores rank among the nation’s lowest. Illegal immigration soared under Biden, flooding classrooms with kids who don’t speak the language. Trump’s base sees this as a direct hit on American education, and they’re demanding he fix it fast.

Republicans point to solutions. Trump’s team is pushing to deport illegals on school grounds if they’re criminals—a controversial call but one conservatives argue is overdue. The NAEP data shows high-performing students recovering in math, yet reading lags, dragged down by low performers like English learners.

This isn’t just about scores—it’s about the future. Kids who can’t read fall behind for life, and America pays the price in jobs and security. Trump’s vowed to slash waste and refocus schools on basics, not handouts for non-citizens. His base wants action yesterday.

The heartland’s fed up. Biden’s open borders let this fester; Trump’s slamming the door and eyeing classrooms next. Conservatives say it’s simple: secure the border, deport the problem, and put American students first. Time’s ticking to turn this ship around.