This paper reviews trends in resource allocations in the public schools over the last 25 years. It focuses specifically on changes in expenditures and school staff for the nation as a whole and for each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia, using data from the National Center for Education Statistics and the National Education Association (NEA). The expenditure analysis using national data sets extends only from 1960 to 1980, since data disaggregated by major function were not available nationally after 1980; but this is supplemented with case studies of recent expenditure trends in California, Florida, and Pennsylvania. Staff trends are analyzed through 1984, since data by staff position were available for more recent years. Tables and charts illustrate the following statistics: (1) teachers' salaries as a percentage of current expenditures; (2) changes in real current expenditure per pupil; (3) distribution of current expenditures by major function; (4) changes in school enrollment and instructional personnel; and (5) changes in percentage of total expenditures allocated to instruction, fixed charges, and administration, respectively. The conclusion suggests a need for reversing the trend in resource allocation so that student instruction again assumes priority. (TE)