The Effects of SAT and ACT Scores on State Education Spending: A Study of Scores and Per-Pupil Spending Over Time 2005-2020

Authors

Cade Herrmann, Illinois Wesleyan University

Abstract

State education spending for K-12 students is an essential component of the state and local government fiscal budget, and in the United States, education spending varies by state, with some states spending much more than others. The SAT and ACT standardized tests have been in use since the early to mid twentieth century and have long been the standard testing metric for college admissions. In the past twenty years, many states have begun requiring their students to take one of these tests as a graduation requirement. With half of states now requiring one of these standardized tests, it seems that these states would have some motive for requiring the test. This paper will explore the idea that states may be using the SAT and ACT test scores from their students to assess their state education spending effectiveness. While it is known that factors such as state partisanship or ideology, percent rural, and median state income have an effect on state education spending, this paper will test the idea that standardized test scores may also have an effect on education spending in each state.

Recommended Citation

Herrmann, Cade (2024) "The Effects of SAT and ACT Scores on State Education Spending: A Study of Scores and Per-Pupil Spending Over Time 2005-2020," Res Publica - Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 29
Available at: https://digitalcommons.iwu.edu/respublica/vol29/iss1/9