How much does the government spend on education?
Critical Analysis
Find answers to the following questions using the visual above, any links below, your big brain, and your knowledge of American government and politics:
According to the data from the visual above, in 1980 what total amount of money was spent on education by local, state, and federal government combined?
According to the data from the visual above, in 2020 what total amount of money was spent on education by local, state, and federal government combined?
Describe the change over time in combined government education spending.
Based on the visual below* what level of the government spends the most on education: state or federal?
How does the visual below* illustrate the concept of federalism?
While the total amount of spending on education has gone up, how does the percentage of all government spending on education in 2020 compare to that of 1980?
In 2020, the federal budget was $6.552 trillion. That same year, the federal government spent 157.7 billion on education. Based on the visuals above and below*, and your knowledge of American politics, do you think the federal government should spend more money on education?
Article II, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution enumerates (lists) the powers of the U.S. government. Nowhere in Article II, Section 8 does the federal government have the power to create schools. In fact, there is no right to education in the Bill of Rights and no power to create schools in the Constitution. What landmark Supreme Court case ruled that the Necessary and Proper (Elastic) Clause at the end of Article II, Section 8 allows the federal government to do things that are not specifically enumerated in Article II, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution?
Amendment X says: “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.” How does this relate federalism and the ability of states to spend money on education?
Would you prefer that there was a constitutional Amendment guaranteeing equal education to all Americans, or do you think it is better to leave decisions about education to the states?
Write and Discuss
Take ten minutes to write about the question at the top of the page and then discuss with your classmates.
Act on your Learning
Your state governor has a lot of power over the level of educational spending where you live. Contact your governor and let them know how you feel about education in your state.
Get Creative
If education spending were a temperature, what would he be?
Learning Extension
Our searchable archive of over 1000 lessons to build U.S. government and politics content knowledge and skills. Cancel at any time. Use promo code SIGNMEUP at checkout to get the first month of our monthly subscription for free!
