The U.S. Departments of Education, Agriculture, and Health and Human Services will spend $35 billion preparing students to succeed in school as opposed to educating them.
The largest portion of the funding will come through the Department of Education. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 allocated $45 billion to the Department of Education for K-12 education, of which about $20 billion is designated for indirect educational activities, such as after-school programs, learning enrichment programs, and social and emotional learning.
Combined with money designated for student support services through the USDA and Health and Human Services, the United States will spend around $35 billion to feed, counsel, and tutor students outside the classroom this year. …