Name: How state budgets are breaking US schools
Uploaded: 2011-03-04T20:31:00Z
Duration: 9 min 59 s
Description: America's school systems are funded by the 50 states. In this fiery talk, Bill Gates says that state budgets are riddled with accounting tricks that disguise the true cost of health care and pensions and weighted with worsening deficits -- with the financing of education at the losing end.

America's school systems are funded by the 50 states. In this fiery talk, Bill Gates says that state budgets are riddled with accounting tricks that disguise the true cost of health care and pensions and weighted with worsening deficits -- with the financing of education at the losing end.

How state budgets are breaking US schools

State budgets hold the key to funding schools and universities, yet are plagued by hidden deficits and misleading accounting. While governments spend 36 percent of the economy, they only collect 26 percent in revenue, leading to a staggering 10 percent deficit. Mounting health and pension obligations are crowding out education, forcing tough choices like larger class sizes and unaffordable tuition. Without greater transparency and public engagement, investments in young people and innovation are at risk.