he debt-limit deal punted on questions surrounding education funding (and funding in general for that matter) — a disappointment to many Republicans. But this is preferable to the Trump administration's slash-and-burn approach to the issue if the goal is actually to enact lasting, conservative education reform.
Conservatives have always been quick to point out the liberal fallacy that more education spending necessarily equates to better outcomes. On this, the evidence is clear: From 1970 to the early 2000s, spending per student on K–12 education doubled, but achievement scores remained flat. The U.S. now spends close to $12,000 per student, or $700 billion a year, on K–12 — far more than most countries — and yet ranked 27th on mathematics, 20th in science, and 17th on 2012's international PISA tests. There are certain circumstances where higher spending can help, particularly for low-income students, but more money does not automatically improve student learning.
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