When it comes to per-pupil spending, Oklahoma ranks 47th out of the 50 U.S. states and Washington, D.C., according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
The state spends less than $9,000 per student per year. That puts Oklahoma well below the national average of nearly $12,400. Oklahoma also spends less than its neighboring states on students, reports News 9.
Per-pupil spending is actually a term that refers to money spent on teacher salaries, school square footage, and supplies. Now some are asking if spending more per student would improve Oklahoma’s educational performance.
Oklahoma State School Boards Association Executive Director Shawn Hime said that, as a parent and an educator, he thinks it would. “We wouldn’t have the shortage that we have today,” he added.
Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs President Jonathan Small disagreed. He sees no correlation between student achievement and per-pupil spending.