Study: Dollar usage in schools impacts achievement

It might not be a case of how much of every tax dollar is spent on a public school student that matters so much as how it is spent that makes the difference in academic achievement.

A newly released report by the U.S. Census Bureau specifies that, on average, school districts spent $10,499 per student during the 2009 fiscal year, which was a 2.3 percent increase from the previous 12 months.

“Most children in the United States rely on public schools for their education, so it’s important for people to understand how available resources are being spent within the public education system,” Census Bureau Government Development Chief Linda Blumerman said. “These data provide a detailed look at how taxpayer money is being spent on education.”

According to census figures, spending by public schools totaled nearly $605 billion during 2009, of which approximately $312 billion, or 51 percent on average, went to classroom instruction.

Teacher salaries accounted for the largest spending segment at $209 billion.

As for where the money came from, property taxes account for more than 65 percent of public school revenue.

According to the Louisiana Department of Education, per pupil expenditures for the same period surveyed by the Census Bureau averaged $10,499 among all school districts in the state.

During the 2009-10 fiscal year, the Terrebonne Parish School District spent less than the state average at $9,449 per student. In St. Mary Parish the per student allocation increased to $10,926, while the Lafourche Parish School District spent the most per student among the Tri-parishes at $11,797.

The Louisiana public school district spending the most per student during that same period was St. Bernard Parish at $26,985, while the least amount spent per student was $9,001 in West Carroll Parish.

“Data and statistics, you can make those things do anything you want if you’ve got a point to prove or an agenda,” said Terrebonne Parish School District Superintendent Philip Martin. “But I would think the answer would be ‘Yes’ [as to if per student spending can influence academic achievement].”

Martin said that if the bulk of spending per student is focused upon what takes place in the classroom the chance of a student excelling academically is better than if that money is spent mostly on extracurricular activities or school overhead costs.

According to a study conducted by Sam Houston State University, out of Huntsville, Texas, a rule that had been adopted by 18 states, in which 65 percent of expenditures spent on each student were dedicated to classroom instruction, showed no connection between high standard performance and the money spent.

On the other hand, researched school districts that allocated less than 60 percent toward classroom instruction, posted achievement scores that were lower than other schools where more was spent in the classroom per student.

The SHSU study also warned that as more money is designated for one specific area, support services such as counseling and libraries suffered.

Martin said that although he had no statistics to support his position, his years as an experienced educator has shown him that what happens in the classroom is related to a student’s success.

For the 2011-12 academic year, the state of Louisiana set a goal that 70 percent of every dollar allocated per pupil should be spent on direct instruction. “We are only one of five or six [school districts] that have met that. Actually we are at 79 percent, which [is] substantially higher than the majority of the districts,” Martin said.

Educators explain that school district size and cost of living can make a difference in how much revenue is collected and spent per pupil. “The economy of scale can impact [spending and academic achievement],” Martin said. “To educate 300 kids in grades K through 12 is very expensive because you are going to have a minimum of 12 teachers [and the salaries and benefits that go with each teacher], whereas if you have the same number of kids in the same grade level, it is nine teachers.” Logistics, he stressed, drive up costs.

“If the district is spending per pupil on what happens in the classroom I think the dividends will be obvious,” Martin said. “Now, if they are buying things that don’t have any connection with student achievement … then you may just be spending money.”

According to the Census Bureau report, the five states or state equivalents that spent the most per pupil during the surveyed period were New York at $18,126, District of Columbia at $16,408, New Jersey at $16,271, Alaska at $15,552 and Vermont at $15,175.

The five lowest per student levels spent were found in Utah at $6,356, Idaho at $7,092, Arizona at $7,813, Oklahoma at $7,885 and Tennessee at $7,897.