National News Roundup

Total education spending in the United States during the 1991-92 school year will hit a record $414 billion, a 5.5 percent increase over last year, the U.S. Education Department predicts in its annual back-to-school forecast.

For their part, elementary and secondary schools--public and private--are expected to spend about $249 billion this year, up 5 percent from the $237 billion they spent in 1990-91.

Per-pupil spending in public elementary and secondary schools (including current expenditures, capital outlays, and interest payments on school debt) is expected to reach a high of $5,961 this school year, up $213 from $5,748 last year. In constant 1990-91 dollars, however, the figure is $5,702, a decrease from last year's figure, and the first...