How the pandemic impacted what public schools in every state spend

As a result of federal COVID-19 school relief funding amounting to $192 billion, spending to support public school teachers and students increased. At the same time, student transportation and food expenditures decreased, according to a 2021 survey from the Association of School Business Officials.

National tutoring service HeyTutor analyzed data from the National Center for Education Statistics to see how the pandemic affected public school spending, tracking expenditures by state between the 2019-20 and 2021-22 academic years.

Nationwide, school spending rose with the additional allocation of federal funding for pandemic relief efforts, including helping students catch up on lessons they lost during school shutdowns or remote learning periods. And the spending appears to have gone largely toward that overall goal, boosting amounts spent on teaching and special education.

Federal COVID-19 relief funding for the schools ends next year. An estimated $90 billion is left for K-12 schools to spend, according to a McKinsey & Company report.

Nearly all states increased per student spending from 2019 to 2021

Hawaii was the only state where per-student spending dropped, perhaps in part because the state saw higher-than-average drops in transportation and food service spending.

However, states's exact changes in overall spending varied as did their spending in several different categories, including direct instruction, services to support students—including special education, services to support teachers, transportation, food service, and other costs.

Read on to learn how school administrators around the nation spent the additional money their districts received.

#51. Hawaii

Total expenditures per student in 2021: $16,550, down 1.3% from 2019
-Instruction: $9,997, up 2.6% from 2019
-Student support services: $1,712, down 2.8% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $520, down 2.4% from 2019
-Student transportation: $328, down 15.1% from 2019
-Other support services: $516, up 0.3% from 2019
-Food services: $646, down 22.1% from 2019

#50. Delaware

Total expenditures per student in 2021: $16,589, up 0.2% from 2019
-Instruction: $9,456, down 7.4% from 2019
-Student support services: $1,838, up 104.3% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $659, up 115.0% from 2019
-Student transportation: $756, down 14.2% from 2019
-Other support services: $616, down 9.1% from 2019
-Food services: $449, down 29.2% from 2019

#49. New York

Total expenditures per student in 2021: $26,097, up 0.9% from 2019
-Instruction: $17,734, down 0.2% from 2019
-Student support services: $781, down 7.2% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $1,094, up 44.8% from 2019
-Student transportation: $1,281, down 8.1% from 2019
-Other support services: $990, down 0.8% from 2019
-Food services: $466, down 6.6% from 2019

#48. Connecticut

Total expenditures per student in 2021: $22,216, up 1.1% from 2019
-Instruction: $13,743, up 1.3% from 2019
-Student support services: $1,681, up 12.4% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $799, up 6.1% from 2019
-Student transportation: $998, down 10.3% from 2019
-Other support services: $736, down 12.5% from 2019
-Food services: $374, down 16.7% from 2019

#47. Pennsylvania

Total expenditures per student in 2021: $17,822, up 1.5% from 2019
-Instruction: $11,094, up 2.5% from 2019
-Student support services: $1,108, up 7.9% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $673, up 5.3% from 2019
-Student transportation: $708, down 16.0% from 2019
-Other support services: $759, up 12.2% from 2019
-Food services: $407, down 26.2% from 2019

#46. Missouri

Total expenditures per student in 2021: $11,999, up 1.8% from 2019
-Instruction: $6,824, up 3.0% from 2019
-Student support services: $856, up 9.6% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $466, down 0.1% from 2019
-Student transportation: $539, down 14.1% from 2019
-Other support services: $284, up 13.0% from 2019
-Food services: $385, down 27.9% from 2019

#45. Alabama

Total expenditures per student in 2021: $10,728, up 2.2% from 2019
-Instruction: $6,356, up 6.8% from 2019
-Student support services: $800, up 16.8% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $462, up 6.4% from 2019
-Student transportation: $520, down 6.1% from 2019
-Other support services: $283, up 16.4% from 2019
-Food services: $324, down 53.7% from 2019

#44. Alaska

Total expenditures per student in 2021: $19,540, up 2.2% from 2019
-Instruction: $10,413, up 2.4% from 2019
-Student support services: $1,496, up 1.0% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $1,889, up 18.8% from 2019
-Student transportation: $567, down 12.4% from 2019
-Other support services: $821, up 10.4% from 2019
-Food services: $561, down 7.1% from 2019

#43. Tennessee

Total expenditures per student in 2021: $10,571, up 2.3% from 2019
-Instruction: $6,410, up 2.9% from 2019
-Student support services: $611, up 15.1% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $664, up 7.6% from 2019
-Student transportation: $363, down 7.8% from 2019
-Other support services: $324, up 10.6% from 2019
-Food services: $476, down 12.1% from 2019

#42. Kentucky

Total expenditures per student in 2021: $12,016, up 2.5% from 2019
-Instruction: $7,177, up 4.8% from 2019
-Student support services: $654, up 11.8% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $629, up 3.0% from 2019
-Student transportation: $566, down 13.8% from 2019
-Other support services: $348, up 13.9% from 2019
-Food services: $633, down 12.5% from 2019

#41. Iowa

Total expenditures per student in 2021: $12,714, up 2.5% from 2019
-Instruction: $7,560, up 1.8% from 2019
-Student support services: $790, up 6.3% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $813, up 3.6% from 2019
-Student transportation: $413, down 7.8% from 2019
-Other support services: $411, up 9.0% from 2019
-Food services: $520, down 2.6% from 2019

#40. New Jersey

Total expenditures per student in 2021: $22,784, up 2.8% from 2019
-Instruction: $13,802, up 5.2% from 2019
-Student support services: $2,403, up 2.6% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $947, up 13.8% from 2019
-Student transportation: $758, down 20.7% from 2019
-Other support services: $568, up 5.3% from 2019
-Food services: $348, down 26.2% from 2019

#39. Minnesota

Total expenditures per student in 2021: $14,213, up 2.9% from 2019
-Instruction: $9,206, up 3.0% from 2019
-Student support services: $476, up 15.1% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $776, up 14.2% from 2019
-Student transportation: $730, down 10.8% from 2019
-Other support services: $398, up 19.7% from 2019
-Food services: $509, down 9.9% from 2019

#38. Ohio

Total expenditures per student in 2021: $14,389, up 3.1% from 2019
-Instruction: $8,676, up 4.7% from 2019
-Student support services: $1,080, up 9.4% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $544, up 3.3% from 2019
-Student transportation: $597, down 11.7% from 2019
-Other support services: $694, up 3.7% from 2019
-Food services: $376, down 14.2% from 2019

#37. Rhode Island

Total expenditures per student in 2021: $18,810, up 3.2% from 2019
-Instruction: $11,400, up 4.0% from 2019
-Student support services: $2,047, up 5.8% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $746, up 5.1% from 2019
-Student transportation: $695, down 14.9% from 2019
-Other support services: $798, up 4.5% from 2019
-Food services: $372, down 25.3% from 2019

#36. North Carolina

Total expenditures per student in 2021: $10,519, up 3.3% from 2019
-Instruction: $6,683, up 5.0% from 2019
-Student support services: $636, up 11.5% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $402, up 20.5% from 2019
-Student transportation: $343, down 18.7% from 2019
-Other support services: $357, up 12.7% from 2019
-Food services: $394, down 20.3% from 2019

#35. South Dakota

Total expenditures per student in 2021: $11,095, up 3.4% from 2019
-Instruction: $6,563, up 3.4% from 2019
-Student support services: $647, up 7.4% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $425, up 9.4% from 2019
-Student transportation: $373, down 5.8% from 2019
-Other support services: $411, down 1.1% from 2019
-Food services: $564, up 1.1% from 2019

#34. Nebraska

Total expenditures per student in 2021: $13,723, up 3.6% from 2019
-Instruction: $8,515, up 3.6% from 2019
-Student support services: $733, up 3.7% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $430, down 4.4% from 2019
-Student transportation: $366, down 7.8% from 2019
-Other support services: $873, up 22.8% from 2019
-Food services: $533, down 1.9% from 2019

#33. California

Total expenditures per student in 2021: $14,697, up 3.7% from 2019
-Instruction: $8,635, up 2.4% from 2019
-Student support services: $1,005, up 8.7% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $927, up 5.0% from 2019
-Student transportation: $241, down 22.7% from 2019
-Other support services: $821, up 25.6% from 2019
-Food services: $456, down 7.0% from 2019

#32. Wisconsin

Total expenditures per student in 2021: $13,687, up 3.8% from 2019
-Instruction: $8,076, up 4.4% from 2019
-Student support services: $758, up 11.4% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $847, up 13.9% from 2019
-Student transportation: $443, down 21.3% from 2019
-Other support services: $743, up 11.6% from 2019
-Food services: $420, down 10.8% from 2019

#31. North Dakota

Total expenditures per student in 2021: $15,139, up 3.8% from 2019
-Instruction: $9,284, up 6.0% from 2019
-Student support services: $632, up 6.0% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $539, up 7.4% from 2019
-Student transportation: $573, down 3.9% from 2019
-Other support services: $474, up 16.1% from 2019
-Food services: $695, up 1.2% from 2019

#30. Arkansas

Total expenditures per student in 2021: $11,239, up 3.9% from 2019
-Instruction: $6,222, up 2.7% from 2019
-Student support services: $638, up 5.9% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $1,013, up 14.6% from 2019
-Student transportation: $372, down 8.7% from 2019
-Other support services: $378, up 10.2% from 2019
-Food services: $534, down 6.2% from 2019

#29. Georgia

Total expenditures per student in 2021: $12,108, up 4.0% from 2019
-Instruction: $7,462, up 6.1% from 2019
-Student support services: $716, up 9.7% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $613, up 0.9% from 2019
-Student transportation: $500, down 10.1% from 2019
-Other support services: $422, up 5.5% from 2019
-Food services: $492, down 16.2% from 2019

#28. West Virginia

Total expenditures per student in 2021: $13,279, up 4.2% from 2019
-Instruction: $7,670, up 4.8% from 2019
-Student support services: $793, up 17.2% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $515, up 13.2% from 2019
-Student transportation: $915, down 6.8% from 2019
-Other support services: $273, up 11.3% from 2019
-Food services: $814, up 3.2% from 2019

#27. Maryland

Total expenditures per student in 2021: $16,873, up 4.3% from 2019
-Instruction: $11,038, up 7.7% from 2019
-Student support services: $839, up 11.8% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $812, down 0.6% from 2019
-Student transportation: $703, down 17.9% from 2019
-Other support services: $471, up 5.7% from 2019
-Food services: $317, down 30.5% from 2019

#26. Florida

Total expenditures per student in 2021: $10,823, up 4.3% from 2019
-Instruction: $6,572, up 3.5% from 2019
-Student support services: $571, up 19.5% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $685, up 4.2% from 2019
-Student transportation: $365, down 8.0% from 2019
-Other support services: $308, up 12.7% from 2019
-Food services: $452, down 12.1% from 2019

#25. Mississippi

Total expenditures per student in 2021: $10,060, up 4.6% from 2019
-Instruction: $5,763, up 5.8% from 2019
-Student support services: $582, up 12.5% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $466, up 6.5% from 2019
-Student transportation: $427, down 9.9% from 2019
-Other support services: $289, up 9.9% from 2019
-Food services: $505, down 10.3% from 2019

#24. Washington

Total expenditures per student in 2021: $15,615, up 4.8% from 2019
-Instruction: $9,376, up 5.3% from 2019
-Student support services: $1,235, up 9.3% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $1,108, up 11.4% from 2019
-Student transportation: $466, down 18.7% from 2019
-Other support services: $734, up 18.5% from 2019
-Food services: $355, down 11.7% from 2019

#23. Arizona

Total expenditures per student in 2021: $9,571, up 5.0% from 2019
-Instruction: $5,317, up 7.1% from 2019
-Student support services: $806, up 12.1% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $491, up 7.4% from 2019
-Student transportation: $303, down 19.7% from 2019
-Other support services: $448, up 8.9% from 2019
-Food services: $373, down 19.1% from 2019

#22. Oklahoma

Total expenditures per student in 2021: $10,084, up 5.5% from 2019
-Instruction: $5,811, up 7.7% from 2019
-Student support services: $704, up 6.4% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $420, up 7.8% from 2019
-Student transportation: $242, down 15.9% from 2019
-Other support services: $418, up 13.3% from 2019
-Food services: $487, down 13.5% from 2019

#21. Virginia

Total expenditures per student in 2021: $13,856, up 5.5% from 2019
-Instruction: $8,452, up 6.0% from 2019
-Student support services: $763, up 12.6% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $1,089, up 18.7% from 2019
-Student transportation: $605, down 12.7% from 2019
-Other support services: $256, up 14.6% from 2019
-Food services: $432, down 12.3% from 2019

#20. District of Columbia

Total expenditures per student in 2021: $25,113, up 5.9% from 2019
-Instruction: $12,626, up 5.9% from 2019
-Student support services: $2,461, up 17.0% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $1,160, down 3.7% from 2019
-Student transportation: $1,451, up 10.1% from 2019
-Other support services: $1,357, up 15.4% from 2019
-Food services: $423, down 48.4% from 2019

#19. Nevada

Total expenditures per student in 2021: $10,073, up 6.2% from 2019
-Instruction: $6,077, up 9.7% from 2019
-Student support services: $626, up 16.5% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $522, down 2.8% from 2019
-Student transportation: $324, down 11.2% from 2019
-Other support services: $416, up 9.1% from 2019
-Food services: $287, down 23.9% from 2019

#18. South Carolina

Total expenditures per student in 2021: $12,139, up 6.3% from 2019
-Instruction: $6,876, up 9.8% from 2019
-Student support services: $887, down 3.0% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $734, up 2.4% from 2019
-Student transportation: $438, down 1.5% from 2019
-Other support services: $557, up 13.6% from 2019
-Food services: $484, down 13.9% from 2019

#17. Colorado

Total expenditures per student in 2021: $12,233, up 6.3% from 2019
-Instruction: $6,612, up 4.1% from 2019
-Student support services: $869, up 21.0% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $710, up 6.9% from 2019
-Student transportation: $310, down 9.9% from 2019
-Other support services: $1,008, up 16.5% from 2019
-Food services: $319, down 11.8% from 2019

#16. Louisiana

Total expenditures per student in 2021: $13,183, up 6.4% from 2019
-Instruction: $7,267, up 5.1% from 2019
-Student support services: $813, up 4.5% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $697, up 7.7% from 2019
-Student transportation: $675, down 5.3% from 2019
-Other support services: $380, up 8.2% from 2019
-Food services: $645, down 1.3% from 2019

#15. Montana

Total expenditures per student in 2021: $13,262, up 6.5% from 2019
-Instruction: $7,821, up 6.9% from 2019
-Student support services: $876, up 2.6% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $450, down 0.4% from 2019
-Student transportation: $589, down 0.5% from 2019
-Other support services: $408, up 15.8% from 2019
-Food services: $557, up 2.5% from 2019

#14. Michigan

Total expenditures per student in 2021: $13,351, up 6.6% from 2019
-Instruction: $7,547, up 5.9% from 2019
-Student support services: $1,151, up 12.2% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $742, up 11.9% from 2019
-Student transportation: $453, down 14.3% from 2019
-Other support services: $801, up 23.2% from 2019
-Food services: $416, down 6.5% from 2019

#13. Oregon

Total expenditures per student in 2021: $13,820, up 6.8% from 2019
-Instruction: $7,988, up 6.0% from 2019
-Student support services: $1,217, up 15.3% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $557, up 8.3% from 2019
-Student transportation: $499, down 15.9% from 2019
-Other support services: $1,030, up 26.3% from 2019
-Food services: $357, down 15.8% from 2019

#12. New Hampshire

Total expenditures per student in 2021: $19,396, up 6.9% from 2019
-Instruction: $12,298, up 6.7% from 2019
-Student support services: $1,588, up 11.0% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $596, up 4.5% from 2019
-Student transportation: $790, down 4.1% from 2019
-Other support services: $289, up 18.4% from 2019
-Food services: $357, down 16.8% from 2019

#11. Indiana

Total expenditures per student in 2021: $11,411, up 7.1% from 2019
-Instruction: $6,544, up 8.6% from 2019
-Student support services: $657, up 11.5% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $565, up 29.5% from 2019
-Student transportation: $550, down 19.8% from 2019
-Other support services: $373, up 40.2% from 2019
-Food services: $426, down 14.9% from 2019

#10. Wyoming

Total expenditures per student in 2021: $18,140, up 7.6% from 2019
-Instruction: $10,686, up 6.5% from 2019
-Student support services: $1,131, up 8.6% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $822, down 1.4% from 2019
-Student transportation: $784, down 2.9% from 2019
-Other support services: $940, up 36.3% from 2019
-Food services: $588, up 13.9% from 2019

#9. Texas

Total expenditures per student in 2021: $11,049, up 7.8% from 2019
-Instruction: $6,547, up 9.8% from 2019
-Student support services: $614, up 15.4% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $591, up 9.2% from 2019
-Student transportation: $296, down 4.4% from 2019
-Other support services: $571, up 16.7% from 2019
-Food services: $430, down 24.2% from 2019

#8. Massachusetts

Total expenditures per student in 2021: $21,529, up 7.9% from 2019
-Instruction: $13,824, up 9.0% from 2019
-Student support services: $1,841, up 17.7% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $1,024, up 9.5% from 2019
-Student transportation: $800, down 13.1% from 2019
-Other support services: $413, up 10.7% from 2019
-Food services: $470, down 20.5% from 2019

#7. Idaho

Total expenditures per student in 2021: $9,054, up 8.3% from 2019
-Instruction: $5,502, up 10.8% from 2019
-Student support services: $536, up 9.5% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $519, up 9.1% from 2019
-Student transportation: $354, down 6.1% from 2019
-Other support services: $273, up 18.4% from 2019
-Food services: $336, down 10.9% from 2019

#6. Kansas

Total expenditures per student in 2021: $12,788, up 8.7% from 2019
-Instruction: $7,627, up 9.7% from 2019
-Student support services: $909, up 13.8% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $523, up 4.2% from 2019
-Student transportation: $486, down 1.5% from 2019
-Other support services: $373, up 16.2% from 2019
-Food services: $509, down 5.1% from 2019

#5. Vermont

Total expenditures per student in 2021: $24,050, up 9.1% from 2019
-Instruction: $14,965, up 8.8% from 2019
-Student support services: $2,022, up 15.8% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $1,019, up 7.9% from 2019
-Student transportation: $752, down 1.5% from 2019
-Other support services: $855, up 40.0% from 2019
-Food services: $636, up 8.3% from 2019

#4. Utah

Total expenditures per student in 2021: $9,014, up 9.1% from 2019
-Instruction: $5,716, up 9.7% from 2019
-Student support services: $512, up 29.0% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $409, up 9.3% from 2019
-Student transportation: $236, down 4.2% from 2019
-Other support services: $288, up 8.7% from 2019
-Food services: $358, down 2.1% from 2019

#3. Illinois

Total expenditures per student in 2021: $18,527, up 9.5% from 2019
-Instruction: $11,585, up 11.4% from 2019
-Student support services: $1,450, up 18.5% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $713, up 10.0% from 2019
-Student transportation: $619, down 18.7% from 2019
-Other support services: $709, up 23.2% from 2019
-Food services: $363, down 13.3% from 2019

#2. New Mexico

Total expenditures per student in 2021: $11,912, up 9.5% from 2019
-Instruction: $6,951, up 12.1% from 2019
-Student support services: $1,300, up 16.5% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $297, up 5.1% from 2019
-Student transportation: $310, down 10.4% from 2019
-Other support services: $405, up 12.7% from 2019
-Food services: $415, down 20.6% from 2019

#1. Maine

Total expenditures per student in 2021: $18,385, up 12.8% from 2019
-Instruction: $10,601, up 11.2% from 2019
-Student support services: $1,324, up 16.9% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $1,073, up 33.3% from 2019
-Student transportation: $778, down 5.5% from 2019
-Other support services: $261, up 19.1% from 2019
-Food services: $505, down 19.9% from 2019

Story editing by Jeff Inglis. Copy editing by Kristen Wegrzyn.

This story originally appeared on HeyTutor and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.