While the number of students in public schools has increased gradually over the past few years, the number of non-teaching positions has risen very rapidly. This rapid increase in administration has not led to increases in student achievement.
Between fiscal year (FY) 1950 and FY 2009, the number of K-12 public school students in the United States increased by 96 percent while the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) school employees grew by 386 percent. Public schools grew staffing at a rate four times faster than the increase in students over that time period. Of those personnel, teachers’ numbers increased by 252 percent while administrators and other staff experienced growth of 702 percent, more than seven times the increase in students.
Read more at The Friedman Foundation.
