Education Funding News in Brief

Most K-12 Spending Goes to Salaries and Benefits

By Sean Cavanagh — June 20, 2017 1 min read
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Recently released federal data confirm what many people already know: The salaries and benefits of teachers, administrators, and support staff consume the vast majority of spending in education.

Salaries and benefits make up a combined 80 percent of school spending, according to the Condition of Education 2017 report, published by the National Center for Education Statistics. Eleven percent goes to purchased services, such as professional development and food, and 8 percent toward supplies, from textbooks to heating oil.

Total spending in the K-12 system stood at $634 billion, or $11,222 per student for the 2013-14 year.

A version of this article appeared in the June 21, 2017 edition of Education Week as Most K-12 Spending Goes to Salaries and Benefits

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