Health Care Costs 'Gobble Up' Education Budgets, Says Former Ed. Commissioner

School employee health care coverage has drained school budgets and undermined education reform, according to a new report from the Boston Foundation.

From 2000 through 2007, health care costs in school budgets grew by $1 billion. That's $300 million more than the increase in state aid. Every district in the commonwealth has been affected, trimming funding for books, teachers and training to pay for health care.

Former Massachusetts Commissioner of Education David Driscoll joined WBUR's Deborah Becker on Thursday's Morning Edition to talk about the impact of rising health care costs on our schools.