For decades, the public school establishment has relied on a single talking point: we just need more funding. Every budget cycle comes with warnings of classroom cuts, stagnant pay, and under-resourced students unless taxpayers write larger checks.
A comprehensive new study by economist Dr. Ben Scafidi from Kennesaw State University—examining district and state spending from 2020 to 2026—reveals the reality: the money came, but it never made it to the front of the classroom. The data tells a clear story of misallocated priorities that shortchange taxpayers, abandon teachers, and fail the students the system was built to serve.
More Funding, Fewer Classrooms
Between 2020 and 2025, inflation-adjusted current operating expenditures rose by nearly $3.1 billion, representing an 11.9% increase per student in real resources—translating to roughly $29,080 more per 20-student classroom. Total per-pupil spending reached $16,646 in 2025.
Yet during this same period, student enrollment fell statewide by 2.7% (over 75,000 students). While districts received record resources per pupil, this windfall did not translate into a better deal for taxpayers or more investment in classrooms.
How the System Shortchanges Everyone Involved
- Taxpayers Pay More for Less: Taxpayers funded an 11.9% real per-student spending surge while the system served fewer children. In comparison, private choice scholarships averaged $8,594 per pupil—roughly half the total cost of the traditional public system—delivering education at a fraction of the public burden.
- Teachers Face Real Pay Cuts: Despite billions in state funding, the average teacher salary dropped by 4.8% after adjusting for inflation. In nominal terms, salaries rose to $57,900, but failed to keep pace with the cost of living. At the same time, the actual number of classroom teachers declined by 5.5%.
- Students Lose Direct Instruction: Instead of directing resources to classroom educators, districts expanded back-office bureaucracy. While the number of classroom teachers dropped by 5.5%, administrative positions surged by 9.6%, and non-instructional support staff grew by 4.6%.
Bureaucratic Bloat Over Classroom Excellence
When school districts receive record funding alongside enrollment declines, they face a straightforward choice: raise teacher pay and reduce class sizes, or expand the administrative apparatus. The evidence confirms that district leadership chose administrative bloat. Money that could have been used to retain top-tier talent and directly support students was instead consumed by district headquarters.
Public education does not suffer from a funding deficit; it suffers from an allocation crisis. Until district bureaucracies are held accountable, taxpayers will keep footing escalating bills, teachers will continue losing purchasing power, and students will remain stuck in a system that prioritizes administration over education. This is why school choice is a better option.