The department of education budget was $65 billion in 1990 (in 2024 dollars), and over $260 billion in 2024. The under-18 population has grown only from 70 million to 75 million. So we are spending 300% more for less than 10% more kids.<p>In that time, what has happened to test scores? Since 1998, NAEP scores are down: <a href="https://kansaspolicy.org/naep-scores-still-stink-now-what" rel="nofollow">https://kansaspolicy.org/naep-scores-still-stink-now-what</a>. Before COVID they were more or less flat for 20 years.<p>Ezra Klein made an excellent point on his podcast recently. If you want people to support government programs—to be outraged when programs and departments are cut—you have to deliver good governance. Parents correctly apprehend that schools today aren’t delivering a better education today than when they were kids despite spending vastly more money.