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Utah continues to rank last in the nation when it comes to money spent per student, and the gap between what Utah spends and what other states are doling out continues to grow, according to census data released Monday.
In 2007, Utah spent $5,683 per public school student -- $3,983 less than the national average, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. It's a gap that's steadily grown by more than $800 over the past five years, according to the data.
It's a difference some people say hurts Utah classrooms, while others say it shows the state spends education dollars more efficiently than others.
State Superintendent Larry Shumway said the nearly $4,000 gap between what Utah spends and the national average means
"People like to say that money doesn't make any difference when it comes to student achievement," Shumway said. "There's no doubt this amount of money does."
Utah spreads its money thinner than other states because of the high number of children here, said Todd Hauber, state associate superintendent. Also, the state's funding effort -- the proportion of personal income that goes toward education -- has declined over time, according to the data. Utah, which once ranked among the top 10 states in the nation for proportion of personal income going toward education, now ranks 33rd for its effort.
"We're not making the same effort we were 10 years ago," Shumway said.
Others, however, say low per-student spending does not necessarily equal poor education in Utah schools. Some states and areas that spend a lot on education are still not seeing success, said Sen. Howard Stephenson, co-chairman of the legislative committee that makes education budget recommendations. Washington, D.C., for example, spent the nation's third-highest amount of money per student -- $14,324 -- in 2007, yet it is one of the most troubled school systems in the country. Also, according to the census data, Utah spent less per pupil on school and general administration than any other state in 2007.
"I would suggest these other states look at us as a model and say, 'What can we do to end the waste we are experiencing in public education?' " Stephenson said.
If Utah schools are looking for ways to improve education, they should start by moving to a trimester schedule so students attend in shifts and teachers work year round, Stephenson said. Schools would need fewer teachers and classrooms and could pay teachers more as a result, he said. Utah districts could also save money by constructing less opulent school buildings, he said.
Although Utah ranks last in the nation for per-pupil spending, the amount the state spent per student increased steadily between 2003 and 2007. The $5,683 figure in the census report includes salaries, employee benefits, professional and technical services, purchased property and supplies. It does not, however, include debt service, construction costs or reimbursements to other governments, among other things.
