Number 22.00: | Are We Learning Our Lessons About Education Spending? | 12/30/2005 |
Are We Learning Our Lessons About Education Spending?
The Institute for Policy Innovation’s Dr. Merrill Matthews says lawmakers aren’t doing their homework
President Bush turned on the federal education spigot in 2001 with his No Child Left Behind Act. In exchange for somewhat tougher academic standards, Bush agreed to billions more in education spending.
From 2001 to 2004, federal spending on elementary and secondary education has jumped 68 percent, to $38 billion. Aid to higher education has more than tripled, to $28 billion.
And what’s this generosity buying? Less educated students.
The National Assessment of Educational Progress found that the average reading score for public school eighth graders fell three points from 2002 to 2005. And the average for fourth graders in public schools was flat.
Lots more federal spending and stagnant or declining performances. There are lessons here, and we aren’t learning them.
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