Percentage of Public School Funding Coming from the Feds

The question? How much Federal Public School Funding comes from the Feds? The answer is here and you have to read it for yourself. Not a lot of reading to stymie you. Not terribly difficult. Not even 30 minutes of reading. The first question that comes to my mind?

What would happen to schools if the Department of Education did not exist during the pandemic? There were large amounts of funding provided to all schools regardless of location. Public school funding rose during the pandemic and was the highest since 1989-90.

Doing away with the Department of Education? I do not think so as many states in the South would not step with additional funding, Anyways, read on . . . USA Facts, “What percentage of public school funding comes from the federal government?”

About 13.7% or one in every seven dollars of public-school funding during the 2021–22 school year.

Local and state governments typically provide most school district funding, with the federal government providing the rest. Federal sources provide as little as 0% and as much as 75% of funding, depending on the district. Federal funding depends on factors such as poverty levels and other student demographics, availability of state and local revenues, and whether a district is urban, suburban, or rural. During 2021–22, which is the latest year of data available, public schools received $124.9 billion, or $2,536 in federal funds per student.

The federal share of public K-12 education funding rose during economic turmoil caused by the Great Recession and the COVID-19 pandemic. The federal share of public school funding during the 2021-22 school year — 13.7% — was the highest of any school year since 1989–90.

During the 2022 federal fiscal year, the government budgeted $96.2 billion for elementary and secondary education. That’s down 67% from 2021, when more than half of education spending was for COVID-19 relief and recovery. Several federal departments and agencies provide public school funds, including the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health and Human Services. The Department of Education accounts for 46.4% of all 2022 K-12 funds.

These programs received significant federal funding in FY 2022:

• Child nutrition programs (27.9% of federal K-12 budget): Administered by the Department of Agriculture, this includes the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program.

• Education for the disadvantaged (19.0%): Also known as Title I, this funds schools with relatively high concentrations of low-income students.

• Special education (15.1%): According to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004, the federal government is authorized, though not mandated, to supply up to 40% of special education funds.

• Head Start (11.2%): Administered by the Department of Health and Human Services, this provides free preschool and related services for children from low-income families.

During the 2022 fiscal year, 46.4% of federal spending of public schools came from the Department of Education.

Public school district revenue by federal source and program.

Funding varies by state. In Mississippi, 23.2% public school funds came from federal sources, more than any other state during the 2021–22 school year. New York had the lowest proportion at 7.3%.

During 2021-22, school districts in Mississippi, South Dakota, and Arkansas relied the most on federal funding.

Funding from federal sources as a percentage of district revenue.

The amount districts receive vary by state as well. The federal government uses formulas to allocate most public school funds, considering factors such as poverty status or a district’s location. Per-student funding ranges from $1,473 in Utah to $4,424 in Alaska.

During the 2021-22 school year, Alaska, Washington, DC, and North Dakota received the most federal funding per student

During the 2021–22 school year, about 17.1K school districts or other local education agencies received federal funding. The Houston Independent School District received 23.2% of its funding from federal sources, the highest among the nation’s 20 school districts based on the number of students. The New York City Department of Education received 6.6% of its funding from federal sources, the lowest in the group.

The 20 largest school districts in the US based on 2021-22 enrollment

Source: National Center for Education Statistics See all (20)