Trends in State and Local Expenditures on Corrections and Education
Department of Education
Jul 7, 2016

The U.S. Department of Education released the report, Trends in State and Local Expenditures on Corrections and Education. State and local spending on prisons and jails has increased at triple the rate of funding for public education for preschool through grade (P-12) education in the last three decades, a new analysis by the U.S. Department of Education found. Additionally, the report paints a particularly stark picture of higher education spending across the country at a time when postsecondary education matters more than ever. Since 1990, state and local spending on higher education has been largely flat while spending on corrections has increased 89 percent.  The graphic shows how in 30 years corrections’ spending has grown at a faster rate than education spending. For more information, go to http://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/report-increases-spending-corrections-far-outpace-education.

Read report

Get the newsletter