Nation underfunds schools, but Georgia is alright, groups say
Arguing that the quality of buildings affects the health and performance of students, a team of advocacy groups says the United States should be spending $46 billion a year more than it currently does to build, maintain and operate schools.
A report by the U.S. Green Building Council, the National Council on School Facilities and the 21st Century School Fund says spending for maintenance and operation falls $8 billion short of annual need while spending on capital construction is underfunded by $38 billion a year.
Georgia compares relatively well, spending 103 percent of what the group estimates was required on new construction and 99 percent of the need to maintain and run those school buildings.
But with enrollment in Georgia projected to grow 9.1 percent between 2012 and 2024, the state should plan to spend nearly $300 million more a year, the group says.
About the Author
Ty Tagami is a staff writer for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Since joining the newspaper in 2002, he has written about everything from hurricanes to homelessness. He has deep experience covering local government and education, and can often be found under the Gold Dome when lawmakers meet or in a school somewhere in the state.
