Idaho’s, Ahem, Commitment To Ed

A preview of Idaho Statesman editorial for Tuesday:

With sufficient repetition, the Statehouse mantra has graduated to governing principle. Spending money does not ensure educational quality. But spending money on public schools — or cutting K-12 budgets — brings a state’s priorities into sharp focus. Here’s the grim Idaho snapshot, courtesy of a study from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a Washington, D.C, think tank:

• From 2007-08 to 2012-13, when adjusted for inflation, per-pupil spending in Idaho dropped by 19 percent. Only three states had a steeper decline.
• In terms of dollars, again adjusted for inflation, Idaho’s five-year decline comes to $1,083 per student, third highest in the nation.
• Even in the past year — as the state’s fiscal picture improved to the point that legislators decided to reduce corporate and top-end personal income tax rates, while socking other money into savings — support for K-12 still eroded slightly. Inflation-adjusted spending dropped another $30 per pupil, a 0.7 percent decline. Full editorial here.

Question: Do you think a state can boast of educational quality even thought it does a poor job of funding education?