Declining Enrollment, Rising Budgets with Ben Scafidi

Show-Me Institute Podcast

Susan Pendergrass speaks with Ben Scafidi, professor of economics and director of the Education Economics Center at Kennesaw State University. He is also a Friedman fellow with EdChoice and the Georgia Public Policy Foundation. They discuss the financial implications of declining enrollment in public schools, highlighting how districts with fewer students often experience increased funding per student. Scafidi explains the paradox of declining enrollment leading to financial windfalls for these districts, allowing them to pay teachers more and increase staffing levels. The conversation also touches on the need for a shift in mindset regarding school funding and the importance of adapting to demographic changes in education policy. Produced by Show-Me Opportunity