Educate Oklahoma: Gap Widening In Per Pupil Spending

Wednesday, October 12th 2016, 10:10 pm

By: Karl Torp

New education spending numbers show Oklahoma spends over $3,000 a year less per student than the national average.

Compared to neighboring states, Oklahoma is in last place and falling deeper, according to just released numbers from the National Center for Education Statistics.

Oklahoma will spend $45,000 less per student throughout a person’s entire public education career compared to what neighboring Kansas spends.

“That’s just not right for our kids,” said Oklahoma State School Boards Association Executive Dir. Shawn Hime.

In the region, Kansas spends the most at $12,318 per student.

Followed by Missouri ($11,523 per pupil), New Mexico ($10,989), Arkansas ($10,946), Colorado ($10,688), Texas ($10,384, and Oklahoma which spends $9,122 per student each year.

“That’s technology and other resources that we need to insure that our students are creative learners and are ready for the 21st century,” said Hime.

Hime added that Kansas even passed a one-cent sales tax in 2008 to help its schools get through the recession.

“Our schools were cut during the recession,” said Hime.