In terms of per capita spending on education, Texas
ranks near the top in the country.
has always spent a consistent amount per student.
ranks near the bottom in the country.
ranks in the middle in the country.
The correct answer and explanation is :
The correct answer is:
ranks near the bottom in the country.
Explanation:
Texas ranks near the bottom in terms of per capita spending on education in the United States. When comparing spending on K-12 education per student, Texas has consistently ranked lower than many other states. According to data from the National Education Association (NEA) and other educational funding studies, Texas spends less per student than the national average. This has been a long-standing issue in the state, despite its large and growing population.
Several factors contribute to Texas’ relatively low per capita spending on education. One primary factor is the state’s reliance on local property taxes to fund public schools, which creates disparities between wealthy and less wealthy districts. Wealthier areas with higher property values can allocate more funds to education, while poorer areas with lower property values struggle to fund schools adequately. As a result, schools in underfunded districts face challenges in providing quality education, resources, and support for students.
In addition, Texas has traditionally prioritized tax cuts and limited government spending. This fiscal approach, particularly the state’s preference for lower taxes, limits the amount of funding available for public services, including education. As a result, even as the state’s economy has grown, education spending has not kept pace with the demands of a growing and diverse student population.
While Texas has made some efforts in recent years to increase funding for education, particularly with the passage of the “House Bill 3” in 2019, which sought to raise teacher pay and increase funding for school districts, these efforts are still not sufficient to bring the state’s per capita spending to a level comparable to that of other states. Consequently, Texas continues to lag behind in providing equitable and sufficient funding for education across the state.
