As RGF research director Dowd Muska discussed last week, the case for New Mexico spending more money, especially at the behest of the judiciary (as a lawsuit would have happen) is nearly non-existent.
Since then, we have run across some fascinating analysis of state-by-state K-12 spending by the education site 74 Million. The most relevant chart has been posted below:
A few salient points:
- Between 2013 and 2015, New Mexico’s K-12 education spending per-pupil grew by 8.21 percent. That’s good for 11th-fastest among states;
- In the NAEP test of 4th grade reading, New Mexico’s point score rose during that time frame by 1.48 points, but 8th grade math scores dropped by 1.864 points;
- While per-pupil spending grew in nearly every state between 2013 and 2015, it is nearly impossible to uncover any correlation (let alone causation) between increasing K-12 spending and improved results on the NAEP.
This problem can be traced directly back to when Towns, Municipalities and States allowed the Federal Government to turn our Public Schools into Government Schools run by politicians and unions. No matter how many relevant stats we show them, they will not listen. Sad!
Here is a “meme” that sums up the issue of trying to measure quality by how much money is spent:
http://www.rosarygraphics.com/Quality.jpg
(Copy & paste into your browser to view the file). If you find it useful, use it.
It seems to be a curiously American habit to equate monetary cost with quality, even though there is no necessary relationship between them.
David Melechinsky
Very nice and accurate meme.
The problem is obvious to everyone except the educators and “progressives”. Money isn’t the real problem. Something is wrong with the way our children are being taught.