In Texas, most people have no idea how much the state spends on public education. Texans might be shocked to find out it’s over $93 billion per year and only about 40% of the money goes to the classroom for expenses like teacher salaries, curriculum, textbooks, and supplies.
The most effective way to improve the quality of education in Texas is by hiring excellent teachers, using a high-quality curriculum, and getting parents engaged in the education of their children. But Texas school districts prioritize spending on bloated administrative costs, lavish contracts for lobbyists and consultants, extravagant facilities and stadiums, and paying off a staggering amount of school district debt.
Taxpayers are getting a raw deal from school districts as costs explode while academic performance plummets. Every Texan pays into the system, though few know where all the money goes. This series will help answer those questions and better inform taxpayers about the right solutions for providing every student with the quality education they deserve.