Infographic: The Collapse of Public Education in America

The public opinion of the United States educational system is that it’s in crisis, failing to meet competitive scores around the globe. This general opinion dates back to the 1950’s and is largely linked to budget cuts that directly affect K-12 education.
OnlineUniversities.com published the infographic “The Collapse of Public Education in America” recently that outlines the ways that budget cuts hurt children’s education and deteriorate their success in the future.
According to the infographic, budget cuts reduce early childhood education opportunities, increase class sizes, marginalizes liberal arts curriculum, and eliminate after school programs such as clubs and sports. The lack of federal and state funding for public schools have driven many parents and students to private and charter schools that offer:

  • A lower teacher-student ratio
  • Better facilities, and
  • More resources.

Around the country, budget cuts cause communities to suffer the loss of guidance counseling, adult education programs, at-risk funding, teachers’ jobs, quality early care and more. All of these elements take away from the opportunity that students have to succeed in K-12 education and in life.
Studies show that without a high school diploma, students may never make more than $23,000, which is near the poverty line. Yet with a masters degree, students may make upwards of $70,000. This shows that students’ education has a domino effect on their futures. Budget cuts in K-12 programs decrease students’ opportunity to graduate and succeed.
View the infographic below:
The Collapse of Public Education in America
Via: Online Universities Blog

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3 Comments

don
12/7/2011

Am I missing something. The budgets for public education has soared over not the last couple years but over the last couple decades. The cost per student in our education system are at all time highs with negligible improvement in outcomes. How you can we say budget cuts are the problem with schools, surely the root of the problem is more systemic than that. Please watch the recently released documentary on the NJ school system that has some of the highest budgets and costs per students in the nation.

Replies

Sarah Cargill
12/8/2011

Hi Don, Thanks for your comment. I agree, the problems are absolutely more systemic than just budget cuts. The data for this infographic was pulled from the report at http://www.ourfuture.org/files/documents/starving-schools-report.pdf. I'll have to check out the documentary. What's the name of it? Thanks!

Peter
12/8/2011

Budget cuts are not so much the problem, but a problem nonetheless. Education reform will continue to be at the forefront when federal and state budgets are assessed. I also agree with the problems being systematic, but funding will be necessary for these systematic improvements.

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5/22/2012

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