Title: Idaho still ranks low on education spending | The Spokesman-Review
Headings: Idaho still ranks low on education spending
Idaho still ranks low on education spending
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Content: Idaho still ranks low on education spending | The Spokesman-Review
News > Spokane
Idaho still ranks low on education spending
Wed., May 22, 2013
By Scott Maben scottm@spokesman.com (509) 459-5528
Below average
Idaho and Washington both fall below the national average of $10,560 per student. Idaho remains stuck near the bottom of public education funding, ranking second to last of all states in per-student spending for a third straight year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data released Monday. Idaho spent $6,824 per student in the 2010-11 school year, above only Utah, according to the latest available figures. Neighboring Washington ranked 30th – up two spots from the previous year – with $9,483 spent per student. “Coming from Washington, it was certainly eye-opening to see the funding in Idaho,” said Matthew Handelman, Coeur d’Alene School District assistant superintendent. “ We combat perception (of underfunding education) by working hard and doing our best – just like everyone else out there we’re trying to be leaner and meaner.” Idaho and Washington both fall below the national average of $10,560 per student. And that is down 0.4 percent from the year before – the first decrease in per-student spending since the bureau began collecting data in 1977. “I don’t know whether a student or a parent knows we don’t have enough funding,” Handelman said.