American public K-12 schools spent an estimated $3.2 billion during the 2023-24 school year dealing with conflicts over race, LGBTQ+ rights, and book bans, according to a new report.
By the Numbers
- Direct costs: Security, legal fees, and additional staff to manage communications were the largest expenditures.
- Indirect costs: Schools incurred additional expenses from staff time redirected to address misinformation, public records requests, and media inquiries.
The cost of conflict: Researchers used per-student cost estimates to calculate the total impact across the U.S. public school system:
- High-conflict districts spent about $80 per student on these issues, while moderate-conflict districts spent $50 per student, and low-conflict districts spent $25.
Key Findings
- Nearly all superintendents surveyed reported some level of culturally divisive conflict, with 66% of districts experiencing moderate or high conflict.
- The largest share of costs was linked to legal services and security. In high-conflict districts, legal fees alone reached over $56,000.
Why it matters: The researchers emphasize the broader impact these conflicts have on educational outcomes. Culturally divisive conflicts are shifting resources away from student learning, increasing staff turnover, and creating heightened stress and absenteeism among educators. Experts estimate that reducing conflict to low levels could save up to $1.96 billion, which could be invested in student services like school breakfast programs or mental health support. [Education Week, subscription model]
