Spending per student in Utah (how much, public schools, utilities)

[hilgi]

In the majority of topics about moving to Utah someone will say how Utah's spending per student is low. To me that isn't always a negative, spending on education can be done well for less.

The quality of the Public schools we looked at here as compared to California is night and day, somehow they are doing well with a lot less.

The NY Times did an article showing Utah was last in spending but they said nothing about quality of education.

Utah spends Utah 5,257 Per Student yet we are 29th in math and 28th in reading. New York spends 14,119 and they are 28th and 21st. California spends 8,067 and they are 44th and 48th.

How the money is spent is more important than how much.

[Lamborgotti]

Well said.

[markg91359]

I couldn't agree more with you that the way the money is spent is more important than the amount of money spent. I think the relative success of the schools in Utah is due to several factors:

1. High parental involvement in schools.
2. Lower racial and ethnic tensions than may exist in some other states.
3. A committment by teachers in this state to do the best they can with limited resources at their disposal.
4. A culture that supports education. "The Glory of God is Intelligence".
5. A less serious gang problem than in other major areas.
6. Lower use of drugs and alcohol by young people than in other places.

Now, what I really wish is that instead of taking the attitude that we should feel fortunate we have reasonably good schools despite the paucity of funding for education that we change our mindset. How about a mindset that instead says "let's fund our schools adequately and see just how high our standards can climb"? What a wonderful committment that would be to students, teachers, and our state.

[hilgi]

Mark,

Thanks for the list, I had not thought of 4 or 6. I agree about proper funding but with the current economy I think we are going to need to think differently in order to fund schools properly. Hopefully this downturn will help to bring about radical change in the way we think about taxation and spending.

In the mean time, bring on the volunteers.

[TRW22]

Agreed. Those statistics are important only to those who measure "quality" by how much money you throw at a problem.

The UEA was constantly using that "spending per student" talking point in their constant efforts to increase education spending. The primary purpose of the UEA is to ensure the continued existence of the UEA.

[markg91359]

Agreed. Those statistics are important only to those who measure "quality" by how much money you throw at a problem.

The UEA was constantly using that "spending per student" talking point in their constant efforts to increase education spending. The primary purpose of the UEA is to ensure the continued existence of the UEA.

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Even though I am not a teacher, I personally am grateful for the UEA and their advocacy for both education and adequate funding. Utah is a conservative state and without the UEA we wouldn't have a dialogue over public education.

While there is much more to quality education than money, no sane person would argue there is not a connection between the two either. You have to pay teacher salaries and you have to build school buildings. You have building maintenance, utilities, school supplies, books, and furniture.

The reality is we have never funded education in this state at the level we should have. The fact that our kids perform at an average level on standardized testing is a tribute to our teachers, parents, and the kids' themselves. They all did despite people like you.

[hilgi]

Originally Posted by markg91359

While there is much more to quality education than money, no sane person would argue there is not a connection between the two either. You have to pay teacher salaries and you have to build school buildings. You have building maintenance, utilities, school supplies, books, and furniture.

The reality is we have never funded education in this state at the level we should have. The fact that our kids perform at an average level on standardized testing is a tribute to our teachers, parents, and the kids' themselves. They all did despite people like you.

I don't anyone is saying there is NO connection, if we spend zero we would not have anything. The debate should not be how much per student but how much is spent on schools, teachers, supplies, etc. as opposed to administrators, their assistants, cars, union leaders etc.

I don't think that questioning union motives is a call to accuse someone of not helping kids.