by CORY SMITH | The National DeskFILE - First grade teacher, Lindsey Land, center, instructs her students during classes at Chimborazo Elementary School Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022, in Richmond, Va. Nationwide spending per student increased in 2022 by the most on a percentage basis in over 20 years, according to a
And Knight said researchers have found that 90% of the time an increase in spending will lead to positive and statistically significant increases in educational outcomes. New York spent the most per student, with $29,873. The District of Columbia spent the next most, followed by New Jersey, Vermont and Connecticut.
“There are differences in the cost of living, and it is more expensive to operate schools in the state of New York than the state of Utah,” Knight said. “But geographic differences in cost don't fully explain the massive gaps we see in spending across states.”Teacher salaries account for the largest expenditure category nationwide, about 30%.Sometimes schools spend more on teachers to reduce class sizes or create more opportunities for shared planning.