Liberal myth

The problem with failing schools is they are under-funded.

The facts

Simply throwing money at already broken schools will not solve the problem.

Spending not the answer

Increased funding has not led to increased achievement. Over the past three decades,

• Total education spending per student has doubled since 1975, and federal per-pupil education spending has doubled since 1990 (See chart)
• Test scores have remained stagnant, especially for those who receive extra federal aid (See chart)
• Federal spending has increased so much that states now hold $6 billion in unspent funds
• The pupil/teacher ratio in public schools decreased from 22 pupils per teacher in 1970 to 16 in 1999 (See chart)

The real problem

The problem is a broken education system that prevents resources from getting to teachers and students.

• As much as 40 cents on the dollar is caught up in bureaucracy and never reaches classrooms
• Parents have no choice but to send their children to failing schools

Related Heritage research

• Issues 2004: “K-12 Education“
• All Heritage education research