Education spending rises

A Census study shows Hawaii
spends slightly more per pupil
than the national average

Hawaii's per-pupil spending on public education ranks 20th in the nation, just above the national average, according to a report by the U.S. Census Bureau.

The state spent $8,100 a student compared with a national average of $8,019, the report said. About 60 percent of the money was spent directly on instruction, also on par with the nationwide level.

The report also painted a picture of a lean state education apparatus, ranking Hawaii dead last in spending on "general administrative," defined as the Department of Education's executive administration and the Board of Education.

"I think that further proves that our administrative costs are low," said the department's Budget Director Ed Koyama.

Hawaii spent $51 per pupil on general administration, compared with a national average of $160.

The figures were based on the 2002-2003 school fiscal year, the most recent year for which data was available.

Hawaii's per-pupil spending ranking came in higher than in separate recent spending studies. But while other studies adjust figures to reflect Hawaii's high costs, the Census Bureau data was not.

If it were, that likely would push Hawaii lower in the rankings, Koyama said.

Hawaii's standing improved compared with the previous year's Census Bureau study, which put Hawaii 28th in the country with expenditures of $7,253 a student. That was short of the national average of $7,701.

However, the improved showing might be partly due to rising personnel costs such as salaries and benefits, Koyama said.

He said the state faces a mixed spending picture for the future. The direct state takeovers of 24 schools that have failed to achieve federal performance criteria will put strain on the system, especially if more schools are taken over. So will more recent sharp rises in medical insurance costs and other personnel expenses, he said.

But a planned new spending formula that will channel more resources to where they are needed most should get more money into the classrooms, Koyama said.

Per-pupil spending on teacher salaries was basically unchanged, moving up one notch to 21st in the nation, just below the national average.

That's not good news for Hawaii, said Joan Husted, executive director of the Hawaii State Teachers Association. Husted says Hawaii salaries are the lowest in the nation when the cost of living is factored in.

"It's really frustrating. People are not paying attention to the fact that significant numbers of teachers will leave if salaries are not brought to an acceptable level," she said.

Washington, D.C., spent the most per pupil at $13,328, followed by New Jersey at $12,202. Utah ranked last, spending just $4,860 on each student.

School Spending

State rankings on per-pupil spending in public schools, 2002-03:

1. Washington, D.C.			$13,328
2. New Jersey			$12,202
3. New York			$12,140
20. Hawaii			$8,100
National Average			$8,019
49. Mississippi			$5,816
50. Arizona			$5,672
51. Utah			$4,860

SOURCE: U.S. CENSUS BUREAU