(The Lion) — Dr. Corey DeAngelis, a leading school choice advocate, criticized teachers’ unions and public school spending during a speech at FreedomFest 2025.

DeAngelis told the crowd that public schools spend an average of $20,000 per student – “about 60% higher than the average private school tuition in this country” – and deliver worse academic outcomes.

He noted that while teacher salaries have risen just 3% since 1970, overall school spending has increased by roughly 170%, even after adjusting for inflation.

“The money goes toward administrative bloat,” DeAngelis said, citing that both presidents of the two largest teachers unions earn more than $500,000 annually.

“They are basically a money laundering operation for the Democrat Party,” he added. “Ninety-nine percent of the campaign contributions from the teachers unions go to Democrats every single election cycle.”

Watch the video here: