The Watergate-era maxim still applies today: follow the money. In American education, the question is not how much money is spent, but where the money goes. Does funding follow institutions, or does it follow children? Does it serve adult interests, or truly benefit students? This distinction increasingly explains why some states spend more without producing better results, while others see academic gains by empowering parents with meaningful educational choices.
New York City is a striking example. In 2024, its Department of Education spent roughly $40 billion, about $36,000 per pupil, one of the highest levels in the nation. Despite this massive investment, student literacy outcomes remain dire. Recent reports found that in 503 of 906 NYC schools studied, most students failed both reading and math exams. State data revealed only 29% of eighth graders were proficient in reading. This means more than seven out of 10 students cannot read at grade level, despite the city’s unprecedented spending.
If one of the nation’s highest-funded school systems still leaves most students struggling to read proficiently, should policymakers continue focusing solely on increasing funding? Or should they also prioritize empowering parents with more educational options to better serve their children?
DEMOCRATS AIM TO KILL SCHOOL CHOICE FROM WISCONSIN TO THE REST OF THE US
Next example, Chicago. Despite a substantial increase in funding, only 43% of Chicago students in grades three through eight met reading proficiency standards in 2025, and just 27% reached proficiency in math. Among eleventh graders, proficiency rates dropped even lower: 40% in reading and 25% in math. Chronic absenteeism hovered above 40%. Even after lowering proficiency standards, most students failed to meet grade-level expectations.
These cases are not arguments against public education. Rather, they challenge the assumption that simply spending more money within the existing system guarantees better outcomes. The evidence suggests, without structural reform, increasing budgets alone will not overcome long-standing academic challenges.
Consider Louisiana’s approach. Just a few years ago, the state faced persistent educational struggles. Today, Louisiana stands as a compelling example of academic progress combined with expanding parental choice. It recently ranked first nationally in reading growth and reported record-high student achievement, with more students meeting or exceeding grade-level expectations than ever before. These gains are especially notable as many states still struggle to recover from pandemic-related learning losses.
Republican Gov. Jeff Landry and Superintendent Cade Brumley have embraced the principle that education funding should follow students, not systems. This philosophy is embodied in the Louisiana Giving All True Opportunity to Rise (LA GATOR) Scholarship Program and the state's expanding charter school sector.
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The LA GATOR program enables eligible families to direct education funds toward private tuition, tutoring, therapies, textbooks, curricula, dual-enrollment and other tailored educational services. The state’s charter schools enroll roughly one in eight public school students. Since 2022, charter enrollment has grown over 9%, while traditional district enrollment declined.
The combination of Louisiana’s record academic improvement, nation-leading reading growth, expanding parental choice and growing charter enrollment sharply contrasts with high-spending but underperforming systems like New York City. Louisiana shows that better outcomes can come together with greater parental empowerment.
Florida offers the most robust long-term evidence supporting school choice. Its school choice programs have existed for over 20 years, culminating in universal educational choice statewide. Studies reveal that public schools facing greater competition from scholarship programs showed improved academic achievement, reduced absenteeism and fewer disciplinary incidents. Competition has boosted outcomes not only for students using choice programs but also those staying in traditional public schools.
Florida’s charter schools reinforce this story. The latest Florida Department of Education report shows charter school students outperformed their district peers in 55 of 77 statewide academic comparisons. More than 400,000 students are enrolled in Florida charter schools today, reflecting record growth and rising family demand for alternatives within the public system. Florida charters earned an overall state accountability grade of "A," with 61% receiving an A and 78% earning either an A or B, significantly outperforming statewide averages.
Critics argue school choice undermines public education, but the experiences of Florida and Louisiana suggest otherwise. When parents have real choices and schools compete to attract them, accountability increases. Schools become more responsive to families, innovation accelerates, and academic outcomes improve.
This is not a call to dismantle public education, which remains a vital foundation of American society. The question is whether educational funding should flow primarily toward institutions or toward students themselves.
New York City and Chicago exemplify systems where spending climbs while academic outcomes stagnate. Conversely, Louisiana and Florida show how empowering parents to guide their children’s education can coincide with stronger academic gains, growing charter enrollment and enhanced accountability.
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The core of the school choice debate distills to this simple principle: Educational dollars should serve students, not systems.
If policymakers want to understand what truly works in American education, they must follow the money – and ensure it follows the child.
Ed Pozzuoli is an expert in education law and CEO of Tripp Scott Law Firm.