How much does your state spend per public school student?

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:

1. According to the data from the map above, in what region of the United States did state spent the most money per public school student in FY (fiscal year) 2022?

2. According to the data from the map above, in what region of the United States did state spent the least money per public school student in FY (fiscal year) 2022?

3. According to the data from the map above, about how much did your state spent the per public school student in 2022?

4. Based on the data from the map above, identify any geographical pattern in variation of spending per public school student in 2022 by region (i.e., the southeast, the northeast, the midwest, the west, etc - see map below.*)?

5. Draw a conclusion about that variation in spending by region.

6. Federalism is a system of government where power is divided and shared between a central national government and individual regional governments, such as states or provinces. This design prevents absolute control by any single level and allows local laws to fit local needs while a national government handles common issues. Explain how public education spending as shown in the map demonstrates the principle of federalism, the separation of power between national and state/local governments.

7. Imagine for a moment that instead of our federal system of government we had a unitary system where power was concentrated at the national level. Describe the variation of spending by state under a unitary system.

8. Based on the data from the map above, spending in New York public schools is more than twice per student as it is in Mississippi. Imagine you were bringing a lawsuit on behalf of the students of Mississippi arguing that this disparity of spending is unconstitutional. Make a constitutional argument about school funding based upon the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution which reads, “No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws..”

9. Following the blueprint of the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025, The Trump administration's FY2026 and FY2027 budget proposals targeted major cuts to the Department of Education, including proposals to cut $12 billion in K-12 education, eliminate $2.2 billion for teacher professional development, and reduce overall Education Department funding by 10% ($7.1B). These proposals often sought to eliminate funding for after-school programs, English learners, and rural schools. Moms for Liberty co-founder Tiffany Justice, who joined The Heritage Foundation as a visiting fellow leading their Parental Rights Initiative in January 2025, has expressed extreme criticism of the American public school system. When asked what percentage of children should be in public schools, Tiffany Justice responded, “I hope zero, I hope to get to zero”. What do you think is the future of public education in America?

10. The Preamble to the Constitution asserts, “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” And the Declaration of Independence asserts, “All men are created equal,” Should educational funding be the same for all students?

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

Look up how much your district spends per student and share your research with your class.

Get Creative

Pretend you were a state that wanted to spend 10 times the amount of money per student that is currently being spent. Write a Wish List of the top five things you would want your school to get with drastically increased funding.

Learning Extension

Spending is not only unequal between states, but also between districts within states. Learn more about why spending is so different across the nation.

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