I don't think it's controversial to say that public education in America is struggling right now. People often cite a recent major historical event of this decade as the cause of students falling behind. It's clear that the past few years have only exacerbated an existing educational problem that's only worsening.
Everybody has a different person to blame when students fall years behind their grade levels. Some blame teachers for not meeting kids where they're at. Others blame politicians who overemphasize the importance of standardized testing and advancing kids into grade levels they shouldn't be in. Lack of parental involvement is frequently cited as the reason for kids having low literacy levels. In reality, it is likely a combination of these factors instead of one boogeyman. A 7th-grade teacher recently took to TikTok to share his experience teaching middle schoolers who are on an elementary school level, and he makes a lot of valid points.