Comparing Massachusetts to Florida

Two states, both alike in dignity,

In fair U.S.A, where we lay our scene,

From classic education break to new standards,

Where civil debate makes civil efforts confusing...

And so forth, but just as two star-crossed lovers came from very different backgrounds, as are the diverse approaches taken by the state of Massachusetts and Florida towards Education.

Massachusetts:

Source:  (Please note that this graph represents 2005 data, and is show in part to demonstrate the state's progress).  http://www.myonlinemaps.com/massachusetts.php

Massachusetts is not the highest spending state in the Union, ranking around 13th (source), but it is one of the best performing.  Eighth graders in Massachusetts out perform Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Japan in Mathematics making them 6th ranked in the world.  The US as a whole ranks 9th in Math. (source). Massachusetts over all is given a 'B' grade while the national average is a 'C.'

How did Massachusetts gain its success?  20 years ago they decided to focus on Math and Science, and they invested in making it a priority.  These investments were both financial as well as in training and research based.  Part of the reason some people believe that they were willing to take the steps necessary was that the state has a large number of well-paid and well-educated people, in comparison to other states (source). 

Florida:

Source:   (Please note that this graph represents 2005 data, and is show in part to demonstrate the state's progress).  http://www.myonlinemaps.com/florida.php

Now to Florida.  Florida is one of the lowest states in per a student spending, but one of the highest areas of growth in Mathematics and Reading.  Even more impressive are the gain in minority students (source).  Florida's growth has been from a 'C-' to a 'B-' overall (source). 

Florida went about it in a similar manner as Massachusetts, only with budget cuts as well.  They also expect student to pass reading tests in third grade before moving to fourth.  They expanded voucher programs and also increased pre-K programs.  While Florida celebrates being able to do all this with a minimal budget, they have had to increase per a student spending recently by $400 (source).  That combined with the addition of Social Studies Testing is believed to show a continued increase in student performance. 

Where next?

I would like to investigate next how a teacher's salary plays into the effectiveness of teachers, and how the breakdown of where the budget goes.  Is it towards technology?  School buildings?  Teachers?  Administrators?  New learning initiatives, and so forth.  I would like to invite anyone's opinions on how they feel school budgets should be allocated.

Shared response:

I invite my readers to share any thoughts they have from this reading,or prior information.  Can school reform happen with a lower budget?  Is Florida the exception or a growing rule?

Does More Money Equal Better Schools?

Does more money equate to better schools? 

Yes.
...and no.

First one must consider the dry lot that is statistics.  Looking at the numbers there can be some confusion.  There are a few states that are top performers, like Colorado which are also some of those that spend the least amount per a student on education.  Just as there are top spenders, like Alaska, who rank very poorly.  However, as one more closely examines the data it becomes apparent, those schools spending more are getting better results. (source).

This information is from 2009, and while I am writing this only 5 years later, the economic reality within our country is quite different.

Within the state of Colorado, for example, there has been a $1 billion "negative factor imposed upon Colorado K-12 public education since 2009."  (source).  The superintendents in 168 of 178 public school districts in the state of Colorado.  The reduction in funding has been sighted as causing increased class sizes, less individualized attention, and falling behind in technology in the classroom.

While complete info-graphs that include test scores in conjunction with graduation rates were challenging to find, I was able to find graduation rates per a state separately.

I also was able to find 2011 statistics for Math and Science scores:

http://blogs.agu.org/wildwildscience/2011/07/06/best-worst-states-for-math-education/

With these two maps combined, one can start to see how some of the higher performing school have slipped to average or a bit below where they were before.

School districts have better programs and have worked well within the cuts, but it seems that it is becoming more challenging to place new measures, also an idea mentioned by the Colorado Superintendents.  Schools successfully cut the fat, but they now need more finances to build what they have created.

The Details and Thoughts Behind Colorado Amendment 66

With graphics like these, it's easy to see where those who created and supported Amendment 66 truly believed in what they had created, but is it true?  Can Colorado truly be that far behind their neighbors in spending?

After the recession school budgets nationwide were cut, in fact for the 2013-14 school year spending will be less than the 2007-08 school year in 34 states.  Of those 34, 13 have cut per student spending more than 10% and in some cases this was despite an increase in state revenue.  (source).  With this evidence the argument could be made that the goal of 66 was to bring Colorado's education budget back to the level of pre-2007 spending per student.  The creators of the amendment point out an out of date financial plan that did not anticipate Colorado's rate of growth or the need to offer competitive salaries to teachers. (source).

Amendment 66 proposed to pay for a $950 million dollar revenue boost with a two-tiered tax system:

In this way they had hoped the burden would be less to those with less, and still enough to make a difference.  It came out as about $.36 a day. 

The writers of the bill see our schools improving and strengthening, lending credit to the universal state standards and the hard-work of educators.  However, others have raised concerns that with our neighbors outspending us, it will be more challenging to keep teachers in state as well as keep the all important new teachers (who bring in fresh training and ideas) from quitting when their hard-work is not appreciated.  (source).

The issue of taxes and keeping new teachers working longer were motivators in other states spending more per a student.  And, finding sources to back the first graph on this page is easy, here is a chart on all fifty states' spending per a student.  What shall be investigated in future blogs is if higher spending equates to greater benefits to the students.