To answer this question, 12News used data from the Arizona Department of Education, U.S. Census data, and research from nonprofit research organizations.
ARIZONA, USA — For years, politicians have suggested Arizona school districts have bloated administrations.
However, statistics don’t support that claim.
THE QUESTION: Do Arizona school districts spend too much on administration expenses?
THE ANSWER: False
THE SOURCES: To answer this question, 12News used data from the Arizona Department of Education, U.S. Census data, and research from the nonprofit research organizations Grand Canyon Institute and Education Finance Reform Group.
WHAT WE FOUND:
Spending data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau suggests Arizona spent less on administrative costs than nearly every other state in 2020. The data includes expenses for the district office, superintendent, CFO, principals, clerical staff and directors of departments. It shows Arizona spent $573 per pupil in 2020. That amounts to just 56% of the national average.
According to the Education Finance Reform Group, which …