How much does your state spend per public school student?
Critical Analysis
According to the data from the map above, what state spent the most per public school student in 2019?
According to the data from the map above, what state spent the least per public school student in 2019?
According to the data from the map above, how much did your state spent the per public school student in 2019?
Based on the data from the map above, identify any geographical pattern in variation of spending per public school student in 2019 by region (i.e., the southeast, the northeast, the midwest, etc.)?
Draw a conclusion about that variation in spending by region.
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.
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.
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 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
Based on the visual below* describe what has happened to overall per student spending over the past fifty years.
If, as 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 if, as the Declaration of Independence asserts, “All men are created equal,” should educational funding be the same for all students?
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.
Action Extension
Look up how much your district spends per student and share your research with your class.
