American schools cost more than ever but our students still keep failing

The United States spent an average of $21,000 per student in 2024, according to education budget data, while reading scores on the Program for International Student Assessment declined 14 points in the most recent assessment cycle. School choice policies, including charter school expansion and education savings accounts, have gained support in multiple states during 2025 and 2026. No direct causal relationship between spending levels and test score changes has been established by educational research organizations.

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