Huh. I guess that explains Cienna:
Idaho remains stuck at the bottom of public education funding, ranking second to last of all states in per-student spending for a third straight year, the U.S. Census Bureau said today.
Idaho spent $6,824 per student in the 2010-11 school year, above only Utah, according to the latest available figures.
Neighboring Washington ranked 30th – up two spots from the previous year – with $9,483 spent per student.
Both Idaho and Washington fall below the national average of $10,560 per student.
Just to bring Washington State’s per student spending up to the national average would cost an additional $1.12 billion a year ($2.24 billion per biennium). And in case you think our taxpayers can’t afford it, it’s important to note that Washington ranks 46th in terms of per student spending as a percentage of per capita income. We’re just cheap, pure and simple.