Oklahoma Next To Last In Student Funding

NewsOn6.com

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma isn't dead last in spending per public school student, but it is in 49th place according to the National Center of Education Statistics.

The state is 27th in public school student enrollment. The figures released Thursday reflect enrollment, school revenues and expenditures as of 2008.

"Unfortunately, this new report confirms what we knew to be the case even before our state experienced an economic downturn: we rank dead last in our region in what we invest in the schooling of children and nearly dead last in the country," said State Superintendent Sandy Garrett said.

"Oklahoma ranking 27th in student enrollment also is notable, because it affirms citizens are putting their faith and trust in this state's public school system."

Read The Report Online

Garrett added that Oklahoma schools were serving 10,000 more students this year, as compared to the previous school year, and 20,000 more since 2006.

NCES operates under the U.S. Department of Education and publishes the report annually using the same collected data from each state so that direct comparisons among the states can be made.