Title: The States That Spend the Most (and the Least) on Education
Headings: The States That Spend the Most (and the Least) on Education
The States That Spend the Most (and the Least) on Education
Several factors are behind the drastic differences in funding.
Revenues
Teacher Salaries
Employee Benefits
Cost of Living
Demographics
Class Sizes
Administrative Costs
State and Local Policy
Education Spending by State
Mike Maciag

Content: The largest spending spikes are found in districts serving regions with high-property values, Roza said. Teacher Salaries
Wage and salary expenses are one area where there’s a particularly large variation across states. New York spends the most -- $8,712 per student -- followed by Connecticut and New Jersey. By comparison, states with fewer teachers and lower wages report spending as little as $3,000 per student in some cases. The influence of teachers’ unions may push wages higher in some states, as do favorable labor market conditions. Districts employing more experienced teachers or those with advanced degrees spend significantly more on salaries. Employee Benefits
Teacher pensions, health insurance, tuition reimbursement and other employee benefits add up to a sizable portion of school spending. Employee benefits for teachers account for about $1,700 in spending per pupil nationally and are as high as $4,127 per student in Alaska and $4,660 in New York. Of course, states with more generous retirement benefits tend to spend more. Pension expenditures, however, don’t fully register in states that underfund their retirement systems.