Public school employment far outpacing K-12 student enrollment

According to a new report published by the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice, “America’s public schools saw a 96 percent increase in students but increased administrators and other non-teaching staff a staggering 702 percent since 1950.”  So, how did North Carolina fare?  Not great.

• Between 1992 and 2009, there was a 36 percent increase in student enrollment.  During the same period, total personnel increased by 65 percent.  Specifically, the number of teachers increase by 68 percent and the number of administrators and other staff increased by 61 percent.
• Between 1950 and 2009, there was a 96 percent increase in student enrollment.  During the same period, total personnel increased by 386 percent, the number of teachers increase by 252 percent, and the number of administrators and other staff increased by 702 percent. WOW!

North Carolina’s hiring binge was remarkably similar to Florida, which had a 36 percent increase in student enrollment and a 70 percent increase in total personnel between 1992 and 2009.  Of course, not all states followed suit.  For example, Virginia had a 22 percent increase in students but only an 11 percent increase in personnel during this period.