Utah's Education Funding Lags Behind Rest of Nation

None by Eric Ray

(KCPW News) A new report from the Utah Foundation says that while state funding for public education has increased over the last two budget years, Utah is still well behind much of the nation in per-pupil spending.

Utah Foundation President Steve Kroes says in 2005, Utah was last in the nation in per-pupil spending at $5,200 per student. He adds the state is 22nd in the nation when it comes to percentage of income put towards education. In 2005, that spending equaled $50 per $1,000 of individual income.

Kroes says when it comes to education funding, Utah should model itself after states that are similar in demographics and the number of college educated parents. Minnesota is such a state, spending more than $8,600 per pupil and students there are at the top of the list on test scores. Utah students put up average scores on those same tests.

To listen to a conversation about the Utah Foundation's public education funding report, download a podcast of today's Midday Metro.

Email to a friendPosted in KCPW Newsroom. Copyright 2008 KCPW