Putting More Money Into the Classroom
A vital first step towards fixing our public schools.
In Wyoming, K-12 school spending has increased 238% since 1970.
Even when controlling for inflation, Wyoming is one of the states with the largest relative increases in per-pupil spending, ranking 10th among all 50 states and Washington, D.C.1
Despite this, Wyoming ranks 35th among all 50 states and Washington D.C. for the relative change in average teacher salaries during the same period, with inflation-adjusted salaries increasing by only 5%.2
Nationally, only about 40% of the 4.7 million adults added to school districts since 1960 have been teachers. Today, that has led to a national average of only 47.5% of school staff in most states being classroom teachers. In Wyoming, that number is even lower, with only 44% of school staff in Wyoming being classroom teachers, leaving Wyoming 3.5% below the national average.3
Nationally, the increased number of administrators (209%), support staff (252%), and instructional aides (1,476%) has not improved student learning outcomes—and has made it nearly impossible to increase pay that would attract and retain more high-quality teachers.4
Worse, this misalignment has not improved student learning outcomes.5 Only 31% of eighth-grade students in Wyoming test proficient or above in math, and that number falls to 30% in reading.
THE SOLUTION
K-12 Spending Transparency
Publishing school-by-school information will help ensure that taxpayers know how their money is being spent—and can hold schools accountable.
By creating a window into each purchase a school makes, states empower parents to advocate for less waste, better teacher pay, and funding for other research-backed solutions that are proven to improve student learning outcomes.6–7
HOW IT WORKS
Wyoming would set up a public checkbook portal for local schools to publish detailed information about every dollar they spend.
Local officials, parents, and members of the public would have immediate access to information on how every dollar is spent, whether an administrator’s salary, office supplies, or new curricula.
This policy can be even more effective when paired with mandatory training for superintendents, principals, and school board members so that they understand the information and what actions they can take when they find something concerning.
WHY IT MATTERS
When communities come together, armed with facts about how public-school dollars are spent, they can hold schools accountable and advocate for proven strategies that improve student outcomes and compensate teachers fairly.
THE BOTTOM LINE:
Education spending transparency allows parents, school boards, and taxpayers to stand up to unaccountable bureaucracies that waste money and fail to educate children.
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