Comments on: 8 States Ranked 49th in Education Spending http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/8_states_ranked_49th_in_education_spending/ Online Journal of Politics and Foreign Affairs Thu, 26 Nov 2009 17:28:09 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Who Can Really Say? http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/8_states_ranked_49th_in_education_spending/comment-page-1/#comment-40671 Who Can Really Say? Mon, 28 Mar 2005 22:50:45 +0000 /?p=9812#comment-40671 <strong>Tied for Last Place</strong> I think we all look forward to the day when every State spends the same amount (however it's counted) on Education, so that all the States can claim they're tied for last.... Tied for Last Place
I think we all look forward to the day when every State spends the same amount (however it's counted) on Education, so that all the States can claim they're tied for last....

]]> By: bryan http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/8_states_ranked_49th_in_education_spending/comment-page-1/#comment-40628 bryan Mon, 28 Mar 2005 18:53:41 +0000 /?p=9812#comment-40628 The flip side of this is the argument that, since the state spends $X,000 per student, that the parent is somehow entitled to see that money as their own. The state spends $x,000, but the parent only pays $x00 in taxes. The flip side of this is the argument that, since the state spends $X,000 per student, that the parent is somehow entitled to see that money as their own. The state spends $x,000, but the parent only pays $x00 in taxes.

]]> By: Just Me http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/8_states_ranked_49th_in_education_spending/comment-page-1/#comment-40622 Just Me Mon, 28 Mar 2005 18:16:47 +0000 /?p=9812#comment-40622 This is all about building a bully pulpit for the "increase education funding folks" to shout from in order to get more money. I think if there is one think the spending on education shows us, it is that you can't fix problems in the system by just tossing more money at it, you have to fix what is wrong in the system. This is all about building a bully pulpit for the "increase education funding folks" to shout from in order to get more money. I think if there is one think the spending on education shows us, it is that you can't fix problems in the system by just tossing more money at it, you have to fix what is wrong in the system.

]]> By: Mike Stiber http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/8_states_ranked_49th_in_education_spending/comment-page-1/#comment-40617 Mike Stiber Mon, 28 Mar 2005 17:52:46 +0000 /?p=9812#comment-40617 <i>Once local costs of living are factored in, the differences are rather negligible.</i> <p> This is a very good point. If the amounts spent by the states are all approximately the same, then small variations in accounting can cause large shifts in ranking. It would be much more informative if an absolute, rather than relative, metric were used. <p> Having said that, cost of living may not be the best way to ensure an "apples to apples" comparison. If you exclude capital expenses, for example (which, IMHO, would be reasonable), then you should also exclude differences in housing costs, as land prices are the major component of both.</p></p> Once local costs of living are factored in, the differences are rather negligible.

This is a very good point. If the amounts spent by the states are all approximately the same, then small variations in accounting can cause large shifts in ranking. It would be much more informative if an absolute, rather than relative, metric were used.

Having said that, cost of living may not be the best way to ensure an "apples to apples" comparison. If you exclude capital expenses, for example (which, IMHO, would be reasonable), then you should also exclude differences in housing costs, as land prices are the major component of both.

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