The graph at the top of the page caught my eye. Alarming as it is, it doesn’t tell the whole story. We’re spending three times as much in real terms on K12 education as we did 30 years ago.
Our problem isn’t that we’re not spending enough. We spend more than any other developed country. Our problem is that we aren’t getting enough bang for our buck.
We’re not just in competition with ourselves anymore. We’re in competition with every person with a laptop with an Internet connection anywhere in the world.
Much of it is administrative cost. Zero bang for the buck.
What’s your source for the 3 times increase? K-12 is almost all local spending is it not?
Steve
I’ve posted it here before. I don’t recall off the top of my head but it was a reputable source.
It surprised me a bit.
http://theglitteringeye.com/spending-four-times-as-much-for-what/ (Washington Post)
Some years ago Andy linked to a graph at Cato that showed real per capita spending on education increasing by 2.5 times over the prior 25 years. The graph doesn’t seem to be there any more. I’m still looking.