Aaron Garth Smith is the director of education reform at Reason Foundation.
Smith works extensively on education finance policy and his writing has appeared in dozens of outlets including National Review, The Hill, and Education Week.
Smith graduated from the University of Maine with a bachelor's degree in business administration and earned a Master of Business Administration from Texas A&M University. He is based in Phoenix, Arizona.
-
With federal pandemic aid expiring, Florida shows states how to cost-effectively boost student achievement
Unlike in most states, public schools in Florida don’t have a monopoly over students and their funding.
-
Public education at a crossroads: A comprehensive look at K-12 resources and outcomes
Examining key education spending, enrollment, staffing, and student performance data over the past two decades in all 50 states.
-
Five key trends in education spending, teacher salaries, staffing and test scores
Total inflation-adjusted education spending increased by 25% per student while average teacher salaries fell by 0.6% from 2002 to 2020.
-
Homeschooling is on the rise, even as the pandemic recedes
As of May 2023, 85% of students are enrolled in public schools, 9.6% attend private schools, and 5.4% are homeschooled.
-
How K-12 education is funded
Funding for K-12 public education is a shared responsibility between federal, state, and local governments.
-
Pennsylvania public schools need funding reform, not more money
Data show Pennsylvania schools are well funded. But how this funding gets to students is a problem.
-
How state education funding formulas work
Funding formulas collect and distribute education dollars to schools.
-
Public education funding without boundaries: How to get K-12 dollars to follow open enrollment students
How to ensure state and local education funds flow seamlessly across district boundaries.
-
Why teacher salaries are flat as school spending soars
Benefit costs, staffing trends and class sizes may explain why teacher salaries have remained flat while K-12 education spending has grown.