America spends too much on K-12 schools | Erika Sanzi Sep 25, 2026 5 hrs ago 0 Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save The U.S. spends too much on K–12 education. Erika Sanzi kAmkDA2?m%92E 5@6D ?@E >62? 6G6CJ 6IA6?5:EFC6 :D F??646DD2CJ[ @C E92E 6G6CJ DE2E6 D9@F=5 DA6?5 E96 D2>6 2>@F?E[ @C E92E D49@@=D 4@F=5 @A6C2E6 H:E9@FE 25>:?:DEC2E@CD[ EC2?DA@CE2E:@? 2?5 DFAA@CE D6CG:46D] xE >62?D E96 AC:46 @7 AF3=:4 65F42E:@? 92D 364@>6 5:D4@??64E65 7C@> C6DF=ED 2?5 E96 ?F>36C @7 DEF56?ED D6CG65] %2IA2J6CD 2C6 A2J:?8 4@?D:56C23=J >@C6 7@C =6DD]k^DA2?m k^AmkAmkDA2?muC@> 72== a_`h E@ 72== a_ac[ AF3=:4 D49@@= 6?C@==>6?E 76== 3J `]c >:==:@?[ @C a]gT] u2==:?8 3:CE9 C2E6D 6IA=2:? A2CE @7 E92E 564=:?6] u2>:=:6D 2=D@ 92G6 >@G65 E@ AC:G2E6 D49@@=D[ 9@>6D49@@=:?8[ >:4C@\D49@@=D 2?5 @E96C 2=E6C?2E:G6D] x? E96 AF3=:4 DJDE6>[ 6?C@==>6?E 92D D9:7E65 7C@> EC25:E:@?2= 5:DEC:4E D49@@=D E@H2C5 492CE6C D49@@=D]k^DA2?m k^Am People are also reading… Old Fort woman charged with murder Friday Marion meat processing plant run by local family brings quality meats, serves farmers Marion man charged with assault inflicting serious bodily injury Police: Marion man fled from officers, was later found stuck on Morganton railroad tracks Search warrant says Old Fort woman told deputies she shot man found dead on front porch Marion woman gets 3 years in prison for defrauding FEMA after Helene What's the latest on the Clinchfield Mill apartment project in Marion? Environmental association says federal rule change threatens Lake James watershed Campaign saves Asheville bear 'Dolly' from death. Here's what to know McDowell County Safe Baby Court program works to place foster kids in homes quickly Old Fort says streetscape project on Catawba Avenue still on schedule Lenoir-Rhyne basketball teams release rosters, two Hickory-area players made the cut Marion task force makes recommendations to help address homelessness What's the latest on Old Fort's streetscape? Here's the schedule for construction, detour routes Woman accused of doing heroin in restroom at sheriff’s office, NC deputies say kAmkDA2?m$A6?5:?8 >@G65 :? E96 @AA@D:E6 5:C64E:@?] p44@C5:?8 E@ E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^FC=5676?D6]4@>^Gb^009EEADi^AC@5\:6D\5>\>:8C2E:@?]Db]FD\8@G\H6DE\`]2>2K@?2HD]4@>^?46D^2DD6E03F:=56C052E2^a_ae^_c^a_ae__g0u*ac}!tu$0u:CDE{@@<]A5700jPP{G*K:4xP?upvuca%}#Dg;:2ye%AbK(Ga:ex;&A}>{`~B"h;=2t(359F#v<gff2r"?y(&4KDA%{+crJ@#pq#c!DcSQm}2E:@?2= r6?E6C 7@C t5F42E:@? $E2E:DE:4Dk^2m[ 6IA6?5:EFC6D A6C AFA:= :?4C62D65 7C@> S`b[`gf :? 7:D42= J62C a_`h E@ S`f[ecc :? 7:D42= J62C a_ac — 2 bcT ?@>:?2= :?4C62D6]k^DA2?m k^AmkAmkDA2?m$A6?5:?8 2=D@ :?4C62D65 27E6C 25;FDE:?8 7@C :?7=2E:@?] r@?8C6DD 2FE9@C:K65 2? 255:E:@?2= k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]82@]8@G^2DD6ED^82@\ac\`_eh`b\9:89=:89ED]A57Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmS`gh]d 3:==:@?k^2m :? E6>A@C2CJ 7656C2= r~'xs\`h C6=:67 7@C D49@@=D 5FC:?8 E9:D A6C:@5]k^DA2?mk^Am kAmkDA2?m$49@@=D 5:5 ?@E FD6 E92E 6IA2?D:@k^DA2?m? >6C6=J E@ AC6D6CG6 DE277:?8 =6G6=D] %96J 25565 6>A=@J66D] q6EH66? 72== a_`b 2?5 72== a_aa[ AF3=:4\D49@@= 6?C@==>6?E 564=:?65 3J cae[_dg DEF56?ED H9:=6 D49@@=D 25565 e_f[deh DE277 >6>36CD] %@E2= DE277:?8 8C6H `_T[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^FC=5676?D6]4@>^Gb^009EEADi^36==H6E96C]@C8^AF3=:42E:@?D^564=:?:?8\6?C@==>6?E\:?\`_\7:8FC6D^00jPP{G*K:4xP?upvuca%}#Dg;:2ye%AbK(Ga:ex;&A}>{`~B"h;=2t(359F#v<gff2r"?y(&4KDA%{+crJ@#&x_6'FtSQmkDA2?mq6==H6E96C 2?2=JD:Dk^DA2?mk^2m] s:DEC:4E 25>:?:DEC2E:G6 DE277:?8 — :?4=F5:?8 @77:4:2=D[ 25>:?:DEC2E@CD 2?5 :?DECF4E:@?2= 4@@C5:?2E@CD — :?4C62D65 3J ch[ef` A@D:E:@?D[ @C beT]k^Am kAmkDA2?m$EF56?E A6C7@C>2?46 5:5 ?@E 7@==@H E96 D2>6 EC2;64E@CJ] }2E:@?2= C625:?8 D4@C6D 564=:?65 282:? :? a_ac] p>@?8 AF3=:4\D49@@= DEF56?ED[ @?=J b_T @7 7@FCE9\8C256CD 2?5 ahT @7 6:89E9\8C256CD A6C7@C>65 2E @C 23@G6 AC@7:4:6?4J :? C625:?8] yFDE afT @7 6:89E9\8C256CD C624965 AC@7:4:6?4J :? >2E9] $4@C6D :? 3@E9 DF3;64ED C6>2:?65 36=@H a_`h =6G6=D]k^DA2?mk^Am Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts Spend more on schools in poor districts that badly need it | James Rosen glaring spending gap On the surface, the U.S. seems to spend a lot on education — more per student than all but a few countries. kAmkDA2?m%92E :D ?@E 2? 2C8F>6?E 7@C D49@@=D E@ DA6?5 >@?6J 5:776C6?E=J] xE :D 6G:56?46 E92E E96 4@F?ECJ :D DA6?5:?8 E@@ >F49 7@C E96 65F42E:@? :E C646:G6Di 76H6C DEF56?ED[ >@C6 6>A=@J66D[ 9:896C 4@DED 2?5 564=:?:?8 C6DF=ED]k^DA2?m k^Am kAmkDA2?m%96 2>@F?E DA6?E A6C AFA:= 2=D@ D9@F=5 ?@E 36 4@?7FD65 H:E9 E96 2>@F?E C6249:?8 4=2DDC@@>D] rFCC6?E 6IA6?5:EFC6D :?4=F56 :?DECF4E:@?[ 3FE 2=D@ 25>:?:DEC2E:@?[ EC2?DA@CE2E:@?[ 7@@5 D6CG:46[ DEF56?E DFAA@CE[ @A6C2E:@?D 2?5 >2:?E6?2?46] kDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>QmqC@256C D49@@= 3F586ED 42CCJ 4@?DECF4E:@? 6IA6?D6D 2?5 563E @3=:82E:@?D] s:DEC:4ED 2=D@ A2J 7@C 4@?DF=E2?ED[ 4@>>F?:42E:@?D 56A2CE>6?ED[ =682= 2?5 4@>A=:2?46 @77:46D[ 2?5 @E96C 24E:G:E:6D E92E 5@ ?@E 5:C64E=J E6249 49:=5C6? E@ C625 @C 5@ >2E9]k^DA2?mk^DA2?mk^Am kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qm$@>6 @7 E96D6 6IA6?D6D 2C6 ?646DD2CJ] %96 AC@3=6> :D E92E D49@@= DJDE6>D 92G6 2DDF>65 2? 6IA2?5:?8 D6E @7 C6DA@?D:3:=:E:6D 2?5 @3=:82E:@?D H:E9@FE D9@H:?8 E92E E96 6IEC2 DA6?5:?8 :>AC@G6D E96:C 4@C6 24256>:4 H@C<] |@C6 >@?6J :? E96 DJDE6> 5@6D ?@E ?646DD2C:=J >62? >@C6 4=2DDC@@> C6D@FC46D[ 36EE6C :?DECF4E:@? @C 9:896C E62496C D2=2C:6D]k^DA2?mk^Am kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qms64=:?:?8 6?C@==>6?E 42? AFD9 A6C\AFA:= 4@DED 9:896C] p 92=7\6>AEJ D49@@= >FDE DE:== 36 962E65[ >2:?E2:?65 2?5 DE27765] !6?D:@?[ 42A:E2= 2?5 563E @3=:82E:@?D C6>2:? 27E6C DEF56?ED =62G6] s:DEC:4ED E92E C6D:DE 4@?D@=:52E:?8 F?56CFD65 D49@@=D @C C65F4:?8 25>:?:DEC2E:G6 A@D:E:@?D DAC625 E9@D6 4@DED 24C@DD 76H6C DEF56?ED]k^DA2?mk^Am kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qm“w@=5 92C>=6DD” A@=:4:6D 42? 7FCE96C :?DF=2E6 5:DEC:4ED 7C@> 6?C@==>6?E =@DD6D] $F49 AC@G:D:@?D >2J 2==@H E:>6 7@C 2? @C56C=J 25;FDE>6?E[ 3FE 6IE6?565 AC@E64E:@?D H62<6? E96 4@??64E:@? 36EH66? 7F?5:?8 2?5 E96 ?F>36C @7 DEF56?ED D6CG65] %96J 2=D@ C65F46 E96 AC6DDFC6 E@ C6DA@?5 H96? 72>:=:6D =62G6 @G6C 24256>:4D[ 5:D4:A=:?6[ 4FCC:4F=F> @C D49@@= 4F=EFC6] &?56C E96D6 A@=:4:6D[ 5:DEC:4ED 42? =@D6 4FDE@>6CD H:E9@FE =@D:?8 2 4@CC6DA@?5:?8 D92C6 @7 C6G6?F6]k^DA2?mk^Am kAmkDA2?m$E2E6 4@>A2C:D@?D D9@H E92E 9:89 DA6?5:?8 :D ?@E 2 AC6C6BF:D:E6 7@C 4@>A6E:E:G6 C6DF=ED] x? 7:D42= J62C a_ac[ 4FCC6?E 6IA6?5:EFC6D A6C AFA:= H6C6 S`a[`ca :? ~<=29@>2 2?5 S`c[dfc :? z6?EF4<J] r2=:7@C?:2 DA6?E Sa_[cbc[ |2DD249FD6EED Saf[__g[ }6H y6CD6J Saf[g`g 2?5 }6H *@C< Sb_[hac] #68:@?2= 4@DED 2?5 DEF56?E A@AF=2E:@?D 5:776C[ 3FE E9@D6 5:776C6?46D 5@ ?@E 2FE@>2E:42==J ;FDE:7J DA6?5:?8 E92E :D[ :? D@>6 42D6D[ >@C6 E92? EH:46 2D 9:89]k^DA2?mk^Am kAmkDA2?m{@H6C\DA6?5:?8 DE2E6D 2=D@ AC@G:56 6G:56?46 E92E E2C86E65 24256>:4 C67@C>D 42? >2EE6C >@C6 E92? 6?=2C8:?8 3F586ED] |:DD:DD:AA: DA6?E S`a[ebh A6C AFA:=[ J6E :ED a_ac 7@FCE9\8C256 C625:?8 D4@C6 H2D H6== 23@G6 E96 ?2E:@?2= 2G6C286] %6??6DD66 DA6?E S`b[`eh 2?5 C2?<65 7@FCE9 2>@?8 bd DE2E6D :? C625:?8 :>AC@G6>6?E 7C@> a_aa E@ a_ad[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^FC=5676?D6]4@>^Gb^009EEADi^65F42E:@?D4@C642C5]@C8^00jPP{G*K:4xP?upvuca%}#Dg;:2ye%AbK(Ga:ex;&A}>{`~B"h;=2t(359F#v<gff2r"?y(&4KDA%{+crJ@#A`3uev&SQmkDA2?mw2CG2C5\$E2?7@C5 t5F42E:@? $4@C642C5k^DA2?mk^2m] {@F:D:2?2 DA6?E S`d[fbh 2?5 H2D E96 @?=J DE2E6 H9@D6 a_ac 7@FCE9\8C256 C625:?8 D4@C6 DFCA2DD65 :ED a_`h C6DF=E]k^DA2?mk^Am kAmkDA2? 52E2\>46\>2C<lQ`Qmu=@C:52 @776CD A6C92AD E96 4=62C6DE 4@>A2C:D@?] xE DA6?E S`b[fa` A6C AFA:= 3FE D4@C65 D:8?:7:42?E=J 23@G6 E96 ?2E:@?2= AF3=:4 D49@@= 2G6C286 :? 7@FCE9\8C256 >2E9] u=@C:52 249:6G65 E92E C6DF=E H9:=6 DA6?5:?8 92=7 2D >F49 A6C DEF56?E 2D |2DD249FD6EED 2?5 }6H y6CD6J]k^DA2?mk^Am kAmkDA2? 52E2\>46\>2C<lQ`Qm|@?6J >2EE6CD[ 3FE E92E 5@6D ?@E >62? 6G6CJ DA6?5:?8 =6G6= :D ;FDE:7:65] (96? 4@DED 2?5 DE277:?8 C:D6 H9:=6 6?C@==>6?E 2?5 249:6G6>6?E 72== — 2?5 H96? D@>6 DE2E6D @3E2:? 4@>A6E:E:G6 C6DF=ED 7@C 5C2>2E:42==J =6DD — E96 4@?4=FD:@? :D DEC2:89E7@CH2C5i %96 &]$] DA6?5D E@@ >F49 @? z\`a 65F42E:@? 2?5 86ED E@@ =:EE=6 :? C6EFC?]k^DA2?mk^Am Sanzi is director of communications at Defending Education. She wrote this for InsideSources.com. 0 Comments Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Catch the latest in Opinion Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Most Popular McDowell County Schools superintendent shares appreciation for principals "To our principals, thank you for the countless hours you give, the way you lead, and, most importantly, the way you care about our children." McDowell hospital CEO: Our superior surgical services are result of expertise, dedication Mission Hospital McDowell’s commitment to patients and exceptional care make it a place community members should feel confident about if they … The one question to ask anyone running for office | Patti Davis With so much attention to upcoming elections and candidates, a long-ago memory nudged me and made me think about what I would really like to h… McDowell County Schools graduation rate reaches highest in district history "Our graduation rate is just one part of a larger story of growth and achievement reflected in this year’s state testing and accountability results." Democrats charge forward to protect immigrant handouts | Las Vegas Review-Journal A country that’s $40 trillion in debt can’t afford to provide generous welfare benefits to the world.
Spend more on schools in poor districts that badly need it | James Rosen glaring spending gap On the surface, the U.S. seems to spend a lot on education — more per student than all but a few countries.
McDowell County Schools superintendent shares appreciation for principals "To our principals, thank you for the countless hours you give, the way you lead, and, most importantly, the way you care about our children."
McDowell hospital CEO: Our superior surgical services are result of expertise, dedication Mission Hospital McDowell’s commitment to patients and exceptional care make it a place community members should feel confident about if they …
The one question to ask anyone running for office | Patti Davis With so much attention to upcoming elections and candidates, a long-ago memory nudged me and made me think about what I would really like to h…
McDowell County Schools graduation rate reaches highest in district history "Our graduation rate is just one part of a larger story of growth and achievement reflected in this year’s state testing and accountability results."
Democrats charge forward to protect immigrant handouts | Las Vegas Review-Journal A country that’s $40 trillion in debt can’t afford to provide generous welfare benefits to the world.
