Summary
Roughly 49.5 million students attend public elementary and secondary schools in the United States, 3 million teachers educate America’s students each year, and the U.S. spent $682 billion on public elementary and secondary schools in the 2019–20 school year (National Center for Education Statistics, 2022). Despite spending more than other OECD nations, the United States performs no better in academic outcomes, suggesting that it’s not how much is spent, but how
such resources are allocated. America’s youth struggle in mathematics, college enrollment is on the decline, youth violence affects too many American students, mental health assessment and treatment resources continue to be scarce for most, and our young workforce is less prepared compared to OECD nations to compete in an increasingly complex global economy.
This policy brief addresses these issues and offers an evidence-based plan to improve mental health, academic, and professional outcomes for America’s youth, positioning America as a leader in education.
Access the full paper here.