[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 144 (Friday, November 3, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2079]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      U.S. EDUCATION EXPENDITURES

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BILL ARCHER

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, November 3, 2000

  Mr. ARCHER. Mr. Speaker, this election year, time and time again, on 
the campaign trail, in the halls of Congress, and out in neighborhood 
communities, the subject of education spending is high on the minds of 
many. While many individuals and groups call out for more and more 
federal spending, they perhaps do not realize that government spending 
on education (at all levels) has increased more than six-fold in the 
past 25 years. The United States spent twice as much on education as it 
did on national defense in 1998. Those who clamor for better education 
through increased spending should look at the vast expenditure 
increases we've made in the last quarter century and consider whether 
the improvements made have lived up to the dollars spent.
  In July 1974, I entered into the Congressional Record remarks 
concerning my extensive study of U.S. education expenditure at the 
time. Now a quarter of a century later, I am including some updated 
facts on U.S. education spending.


                     Expenditures on U.S. Education

  Education is still the largest occupational group in America. In 1998 
there were nearly 6 million Americans employed as teachers in levels K 
through college. Nearly 1 in 5 of the world's teachers is an American 
teacher.
  Education expenditures per student in public elementary and secondary 
schools have increased by leaps and bounds since the end of World War 
II. The following figures show expenditures for public elementary and 
secondary schools on a per student basis based on fall enrollment (all 
figures in constant 1998-99 dollars).

1947-48..........................................................$1,119
1957-58...........................................................1,793
1967-68...........................................................2,963
1977-78...........................................................4,404
1987-88...........................................................5,577
1997-98........................................................\1\6,275

\1\ Estimated.

  Likewise, per student expenditures of all institutions of higher 
education and degree-granting institutions have gone up dramatically 
since the end of World War II. The following figures show educational 
and general expenditures per student in fall enrollment (all figures in 
constant 1995-96 dollars).

1947-48..........................................................$3,946
1957-58...........................................................6,078
1967-68...........................................................8,444
1977-78...........................................................7,925
1985-96......................................................\1\ 10,583

\1\ Estimated.

  1. Total U.S. expenditure on education (federal, state, local, and 
private) in 1998, at all levels, was $618.6 billion. This is twice as 
much as the amount spent for national defense, $310.3 billion in 1998. 
This is compared to $98 billion spent in 1974 on all levels of 
education.
  2. Total public expenditure (federal, state, and local) in 1998 was 
$429.2 billion. Total private spending was $189.4 billion, or about 
30.6% of the total education expenditure. Total public expenditure in 
1974 amounted to $79 billion.
  3. In 1998, $371.9 billion was spent on elementary and secondary 
schools. Of that, private expenditures amounted to $36.4 billion, or 
9.8%. Back in 1974, $61.6 billion was spent on elementary and secondary 
schools, both at the public and private level.
  4. In 1998, $246.7 billion was spent on higher education. Of that, 
private expenditures amounted to 62%. In 1974, I found that $34.7 
billion was spent on higher education and of this amount $23 billion 
was public and $11.7 billion was private.
  5. Of the total public funds spent on education in 1998, $52.3 
billion were appropriated at the federal level, $222.6 billion at the 
state level, and $154.3 billion at the local level. $189.4 billion was 
spent at the private level in 1998.
  6. The U.S. has spent 7.3% of its GDP on education since 1991.
  7. In 1998, the U.S. spent a total of $2,287 per capita on all levels 
of education. By comparison, in 1970, the U.S. spent an average of $308 
per capita on total U.S. education expenditures.
  8. According to 1994 UNESCO figures, European nations averaged $982 
per capita in education outlays. The U.S. spent twice that per capita 
in 1994 at $2,286.
  9. Also according to 1994 UNESCO figures, the United States budget 
for education in 1994 was $481.7 billion. This is nearly equal to the 
total budget for education in all of Europe, $492.6 billion. 
Additionally, the U.S. is host country to 30% of the foreign students 
seeking an education outside of their home country.
  10. Although education spending represents a small part of the 
federal budget, education is still the single largest item in state and 
local budgets. Education accounts for 12.4% of state expenditures and 
36.8% of local expenditures.
  Looking back historically over the past few decades:
  In 1978, federal education spending was $14.6 billion, state 
education spending was $51.1 billion, and local education spending was 
$39.1 billion. Private educational expenditures were $35.6 billion. The 
total U.S. education spending at all levels was $140.4 billion.
  In 1988, federal education spending was $26.7 billion, state 
education spending was $121.3, and local education spending was $79.3 
billion. Private educational expenditures were $86.1 billion. The total 
U.S. education spending at all levels was $313.4 billion.
  In 1998, federal education spending was 52.3 billion, state education 
spending was $222.6 billion, and local education spending was $154.3 
billion. Private educational expenditures were $189.4 billion. The 
total U.S. education spending at all levels was $618.6 billion.
  It is important to ask ourselves then, while education expenditures 
have been steadily increasing, has the quality of education also been 
rising in tandem? Are students and parents getting more for their 
money, as they should be? Our children deserve the best possible 
education that we can give them, either public or private. Before we 
dedicate even more resources to federal education spending, we should 
investigate whether throwing more money into a deep well is the best 
path to follow for our nation's school children.

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