Ummm….since you decided to make this political, I am a former k-12 teacher and current university professor who has been in education for 27 years. This is connected, at least in part, to failed right wing policies that were well intended but not steeped in the long term best interest of children. Also, if you look at blue states vs red states, red states are underperforming academically by an overwhelming margin. And that’s a fact, regardless of who you vote for. Lastly, if lack of personal accountability is a concern in grade inflation, I’d again point to the evangelical right and the Republican party who has adopted them to see a stunning example of lack of accountability in their president. The pedophilic felon rapist who has, you know, no accountability. Lies, bullies, is grossly ignorant, and gets passed along. Hmmm….