Title: School Spending Is Not to Blame for Education Challenges | Issues 2020
Headings: Issues 2020: Public School Spending Is at an All-Time High
Issues 2020: Public School Spending Is at an All-Time High
The Narrative
Reality
Key Findings
Perception vs. Reality
Per Pupil Nearly Highest in the World and in History
Well-Maintained Schools, Well-Funded Teachers
Equitably Funded Students
Proper Arguments About School Spending
Endnotes

Content: These are our children." [ 2]
— Elizabeth Warren
"There’s an estimated $23 billion annual funding gap between white and non-white school districts today, and gaps persist between high- and low-income districts as well." [ 3]
— Joe Biden
Reality
Over the past half-century, America’s per-pupil spending on K–12 education has nearly tripled, and, despite a dip from decreased tax revenues during the Great Recession, it now stands at an all-time high in most states. The U.S. spends more money per pupil on primary and secondary schools than any other major developed nation, and American teachers earn substantially more than their peers in the private sector. Although local school spending relies heavily on property-tax revenue, state and federal spending ensure that a state’s per-pupil spending is comparable across race and socioeconomic status. Spending varies widely between states, but that variation shows little correlation with academic achievement. The challenge for American K–12 education is to provide students with equal opportunity despite significant inequalities of circumstance. Achievement gaps by race, class, and zip code still persist, but inadequate and inequitable school spending are not among the causes. Key Findings
1. Thanks to decades of increases, America spends more per student than any other major developed nation.