K-12 public education spending has increased, but where is the money going?
The graphic below shows the increase in K-12 staffing nationally, as well as students, since the year 2000. It is one of the most popular charts available today - and that's because it tells a story: huge increases in administrative staffing (both district and at each school), yet small increases in teachers and students.
We wanted to know how those numbers look in our states. So we started in Idaho, by reviewing staffing and student enrollment trends over the past 10 years. The statistics are easily accessible on the state Department of Education website. And they show a similar pattern. Student and teacher increases track together - eight percent each.
But administrators - specifically school administrators (principals and assistant principals) see increases nearly three times higher.
Overall, the most dramatic increases are seen in Assistant Superintendents, Assistant Principals, counselors and school nurses.
The raw data also gives you an idea of the other categories seeing large staffing increases.
Like most other states, Idaho's education spending has increased dramatically over the past decade. Unfortunately, if money doesn't get to the classroom, it is unlikely to have a huge impact on student outcomes.
We'll review Montana's, Washington's and Wyoming's staffing data and student enrollment in the coming weeks.