Mississippi’s education dollars disproportionately spent outside the classroom, state auditor reports

The Mississippi state auditor released a report on education spending that found the state disproportionately funds administration over the classroom.

The data revealed that since 2006 inside-the-classroom spending decreased by nearly 8%, after adjusting for inflation. But administrative spending rose by 6.5%.

“As the son of a 35-year public school teacher and the grandson of two public school teachers, I know it’s important to focus money on teachers’ salaries and where it matters most – the classroom,” said State Auditor Shad White. “Every parent knows that money spent on their child’s teacher and in their child’s classroom is what counts.”

The report also showed Mississippi has one of the highest administrative budgets in the nation.

Nearly 10% of education spending goes directly to administration, and over 28% to outside-the-classroom expenses. 

Other states spend 7% on administration and 21% outside the classroom. 

White urged policymakers to do a better job of managing education funds so they benefit students instead of fueling more bureaucracy. 

But Mississippi isn’t the only state struggling to manage the ballooning costs of school administration. 

Nationwide, public schools are hiring far more administrators than teachers.  

According to federal statistics, over the past two decades the number of school administrators rose nearly 88%. Student population only grew 8% and teacher population 9%.  

Unsurprisingly, states such as Iowa and Indiana are seeing huge increases in the cost of school administration. 

Missouri Rep. Doug Richey, R-District 39, told The Lion last year that too much money is spent outside the classroom. 

“Of DESE’s [Department of Elementary and Secondary Education] $10+ billion dollars that are in the proposed budget currently, over 40% of that budget would be tied to mission creep or bureaucratic bloat, and is far afield from actual classroom instruction,” Richey said.  

Fortunately, lawmakers are trying to find solutions. 

One proposal from Arizona Republicans would force districts to restructure their budget by mandating a salary increase for teachers without raising taxes. 

And others, like Richey, are promoting school choice policies so funds can be spent directly on the student.