Fore Note: Below is a
short summery of a report by The Beacon Center on the true costs
of public education and how we aren't really getting the whole
story. Be sure to follow the link to the full report. It's a
little long but a lot of good information.
New study follows the money on Tennessee public education Beacon Center report analyzes how many tax dollars go into the classroom
NASHVILLE – A new study released today analyzes taxpayer
spending on public education in Tennessee. In the study, the
Beacon Center of Tennessee, the state’s premier free market
policy organization, looked at the amount taxpayers actually
spend on education versus what is reported, where that money
goes, and whether more funding equals better results.
The
first of its kind in Tennessee, the report titled “Following
the Money: A Tennessee Education Spending Primer,” reached
some troubling conclusions. First, the amount that taxpayers
already spend on public education is significantly
underreported. While the average stated amount spent per pupil
is $9,123 per year, the true figure is about 11 percent more
than reported, or $10,088 per student.
Of
that funding, less than 54 percent is directed at classroom
instruction, such as teacher salaries, textbooks, and other
instructional spending. And that figure is in constant decline,
whereas administrative spending is on the upswing. Since 2000,
the number of administrators in Tennessee’s education system has
grown by 34.5 percent, while the number of teachers has
increased by less than 17 percent, and the number of students
has grown by just seven percent.
Administrators’ salaries have also outpaced those of teachers
during that time period. In fact, when factoring for inflation,
teachers make less money today than they did in 2000.
“Not
only have taxpayers been misinformed about how much we spend on
education, there has been a growing trend of adding
administrative personnel, redirecting funding away from the
classroom,” said Beacon Center CEO Justin Owen.
Finally, after comparing similarly situated school districts
within the state, while also comparing Tennessee to other
states, the report found no measurable correlation between
spending and student performance.
“Ultimately, more spending does not equal better results,” said
Owen. “Rather than allocate more money, especially on
administrative personnel, public school districts should focus
on spending education funds more wisely. Only then can Tennessee
expect to provide its students with the quality education they
deserve.”
The
Beacon Center of Tennessee’s mission is to change lives through
public policy by advancing the principles of free markets,
individual liberty, and limited government.
For further
information, contact:
Justin Owen, (615) 383-6431
justin@beacontn.org
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8/21/13