Six states that faced teacher strikes last year — Arizona, California, Colorado, North Carolina, Oklahoma and West Virginia — have had only small increases in education spending since the 1980s when compared to other states. State and local spending grew relatively slowly in those states, as well.
Research suggests achievement and graduation rates, as well as life outcomes such as employment and wages, improve when more money is spent on education. This is especially true for students from low-income families. Increased spending on education can also lead to reduced poverty rates.
