The Nation : Record School Costs Seen

Americans will spend a record $308 billion on education this year, including an average of $4,538 for each of the 40 million children in public elementary and secondary schools, the Department of Education reported. The department, in its annual back-to-school forecast of school finances, said colleges and universities will cost $124 billion, or $14,294 for each full-time student, an increase of 7% over the year before. The elementary and secondary school bill will rise by 6.5%, to $184 billion, including tuition for the 5.7 million students enrolled in private schools. The nation is expected to spend 6.7% of its gross national product on schools and colleges, the same as last year.