Following First Lady Jill Biden's assertion that President Biden is "the education president," education leaders and parent advocacy groups have voiced strong criticism, citing concerns about his administration's policies and the recent decline in student test scores.

During the 2023 NEA teachers' union meeting, Jill Biden emphasized her husband's commitment to education, stating his belief that the nation's success begins with educators. However, this statement was met with pushback from figures like Sheri Few, president of United States Parents Involved in Education, who accused Biden of being the "most anti-parent education president" due to his alignment with the NEA's agenda. Few further criticized Biden's administration for allegedly labeling concerned parents as domestic terrorists and promoting transgender ideologies in schools.

The first lady's comments came on the heels of the "Nation's Report Card" revealing the lowest reading and math scores for 13-year-olds in decades, a decline attributed by some to school closures during the pandemic. Critics have pointed fingers at the Biden administration, claiming they encouraged extended school closures. Erika Sanzi of Parents Defending Education echoed this sentiment, arguing that Biden's close ties with teachers' unions and the subsequent decline in academic progress solidify his claim to the title "education president" in a negative light.

Dr. Jameson Taylor of the American Family Association also weighed in, stating that Biden missed a significant opportunity to positively impact education. He criticized the administration for focusing on issues like critical race theory and transgender ideologies rather than core subjects like reading, writing, and math. He asserted that this focus compromised student safety and hindered academic progress.

The White House has not yet responded to these criticisms.