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October 24, 2023
Funding for Public Elementary and Secondary Schools
Congress provides annual appropriations and periodically
COVID-19 federal assistance funds (e.g., Elementary and
provides supplemental appropriations for public elementary
Secondary School Emergency Relief [ESSER] Fund).
and secondary schools through many agencies and
The current year data included in Figure 1 are based on
programs. Of these funds, the largest tranche of federal
federal, state, and local revenue data reported by NCES for
funding for public elementary and secondary schools is for
FY2002 (2001-2002 school year) through FY2021 (2020-
programs authorized by the Elementary and Secondary
2021 school year), which is the most recent data available.
Education Act (ESEA). All ESEA programs are
The data are provided in constant 2023 dollars. Inflation
administered by the Department of Education (ED).
adjustments were made by CRS using the Consumer Price
This In Focus examines revenues for public elementary and
Index (CPI) published by the U.S. Department of Labor,
secondary education (hereinafter referred to as public
Bureau of Labor Statistics. The CPI was adjusted from a
education) and the share of this revenue provided by the
calendar year basis to a school-year basis (July 2022
federal government. It also details overall federal funding
through June 2023, referred to as the 2022-2023 CPI), the
provided for ESEA programs since FY2002, which is
most recent year for which this calculation can be made.
included in federal revenue for public education.
Over this period, total revenues for public schools have
Revenues for Public Education
increased from $419.5 billion ($705.5 billion in constant
dollars) in FY2002 to $837.7 billion ($953.6 billion in
Each year, the National Center for Education Statistics
constant dollars) in FY2021 (Figure 1). Most of these funds
(NCES) at ED collects data on revenues and expenditures
were provided by state and local sources.
for public education using the National Public Education
Financial Survey (NPEFS). Revenues and expenditures are
Figure 1 also includes public school enrollment data over
reported by states for prekindergarten through high school.
the same period. After increasing for many years,
enrollment declined in fall 2020 (FY2021).
Revenue data are available by source: federal, state, and
local. Federal revenue sources include, for example, ESEA

grants, funds provided under the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act, Medicaid reimbursements, and
Figure 1. Revenues for Public Education in Current and Constant 2023 Dollars, by Source and Public
Elementary and Secondary School Enrollment: School Year 2001-2002 through School Year 2020-2021

Source: Revenue data obtained from Digest of Education Statistics, current tables, Table 235.10; and Revenues and Expenditures for Public
Elementary and Secondary Education: FY21. Enrollment data obtained from Digest of Education Statistics, current tables, Table 105.30.
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Funding for Public Elementary and Secondary Schools
Notes: Constant dollars based on the Consumer Price Index, prepared by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and
adjusted to a school-year basis (July 2022 to July 2023) by CRS.
While the federal government has annually provided
Figure 2. Share of Total Revenues for Public
billions of dollars in support for public education, federal
Education, by Source: School Year 2001-2002 through
funding has generally accounted for less than 10% of the
School Year 2020-2021
annual revenue provided for public education on average
nationwide since FY2002 (Figure 2). Exceptions have
occurred when the federal government has provided
supplemental aid in response to a national crisis—the Great
Recession in FY2010 (2009-2010 school year) through
FY2012 (2011-2012 school year) and the COVID-19
pandemic in FY2021 (2020-2021 school year). However,
federal revenue can regularly exceed 10% of revenue for
public education for some states and local educational
agencies (LEAs), while being much less than the national
average for others. In all fiscal years examined, state and
local government entities provided the majority of the
revenues available for public education.
ESEA Funding
Figure 3 provides total ESEA funding provided through
annual appropriations acts from FY2002 through FY2023
as calculated by CRS. The appropriations included in
Figure 3 are based on the most recent data available from
ED’s Budget Service Office. It should be noted that ED
considers all of the funds provided in an appropriations act
for a given fiscal year to be appropriations for that fiscal
year, including any advance appropriations provided for the
following fiscal year. For example, ED considers all of the
funds provided in the FY2023 appropriations act, including
advance appropriations provided for FY2024, to be FY2023
appropriations. These funds will be used primarily during

the 2023-2024 school year. Figure 3 follows this
Source: Revenue data obtained from Digest of Education Statistics,
convention with regard to the fiscal year of the funds. Data
current tables, Table 235.10; and Revenues and Expenditures for
are presented in current dollars and constant dollars based
Public Elementary and Secondary Education: FY21.
on the 2022-2023 CPI.

Figure 3. Elementary and Secondary Education Act Funding in Current and Constant 2023 Dollars,
FY2002-FY2023
(dollars in billions)

Source: Figure prepared based on CRS analysis of data available from the U.S. Department of Education, Budget Service, various years.
Notes: Constant dollars based on the Consumer Price Index, prepared by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and
adjusted to a school-year basis (July 2022 to June 2023) by CRS.

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Funding for Public Elementary and Secondary Schools

Isobel Sorenson, Research Assistant
IF12519
Rebecca R. Skinner, Specialist in Education Policy

Disclaimer
This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan shared staff to
congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and under the direction of Congress.
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