Thursday, March 28, 2024
Hawai'i Free Press

Current Articles | Archives

Friday, June 10, 2011
Is More Better? Education Spending Increases in Hawaii
By Grassroot Institute @ 1:42 AM :: 5711 Views :: Energy, Environment

Is More Better? Education Spending Increases in Hawaii

by Melissa Short Grassroot Institute

Hawaii’s per pupil expenditure climbed to $12,399 in 2009, ranking it as the 11th highest in the nation, according to a recent U.S. Census Bureau report. This new rate marks a 12% increase compared to the previous year.

But, will increased spending ensure educational improvements in Hawaii?

Sources posit that there is no positive correlation between high per pupil expenditures and higher test scores. And this seems about right for Hawaii.  Even in spending among the highest in the nation, the state struggles to ensure that all of its students meet critical benchmarks. Hawaii’s performance is consistently behind the national average in math, reading, writing and science, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress. What’s more, 28 states that spent less per pupil than Hawaii scored higher than Hawaii on the NAEP in 2005.

As per pupil costs increase, we’re left to wonder how much of it will Hawaii’s students actually see? Only 51% of Hawaii’s education expenditures is dedicated to instruction – leaving a large portion of funds diverted away from students.  Hawaii needs to re-evaluate how it allocates educational funds and ensure that student performance is the focus.

Flexible funding models that increase student choice may prove beneficial for student performance. Specifically, performance-based funding is a promising model. The Florida Virtual School employs this model, where the virtual school is funded only after the student successfully completes a course. Hawaii could employ this model or one similar to it.  The state could tie student outcomes to funding by enabling students to employ a portion of their per pupil funding for alternative learning opportunities, such as for Hawaii’s E-School or for taking classes with online learning providers that have a proven record of success.

The bottom line? Instead of simply increasing funding each school year, Hawaii needs to re-evaluate its resource allocation and move towards a student-centric model.

Links

TEXT "follow HawaiiFreePress" to 40404

Register to Vote

2aHawaii

808 Silent Majority

Aloha Pregnancy Care Center

AntiPlanner

Antonio Gramsci Reading List

A Place for Women in Waipio

Ballotpedia Hawaii

Broken Trust

Build More Hawaiian Homes Working Group

Christian Homeschoolers of Hawaii

Cliff Slater's Second Opinion

DVids Hawaii

FIRE

Fix Oahu!

Frontline: The Fixers

Genetic Literacy Project

Grassroot Institute

Habele.org

Hawaii Aquarium Fish Report

Hawaii Aviation Preservation Society

Hawaii Catholic TV

Hawaii Christian Coalition

Hawaii Cigar Association

Hawaii ConCon Info

Hawaii Debt Clock

Hawaii Defense Foundation

Hawaii Family Forum

Hawaii Farmers and Ranchers United

Hawaii Farmer's Daughter

Hawaii Federalist Society

Hawaii Federation of Republican Women

Hawaii History Blog

Hawaii Homeschool Association

Hawaii Jihadi Trial

Hawaii Legal News

Hawaii Legal Short-Term Rental Alliance

Hawaii Matters

Hawaii's Partnership for Appropriate & Compassionate Care

Hawaii Public Charter School Network

Hawaii Rifle Association

Hawaii Shippers Council

Hawaii Smokers Alliance

Hawaii State Data Lab

Hawaii Together

HIEC.Coop

HiFiCo

Hiram Fong Papers

Homeschool Legal Defense Hawaii

Honolulu Moms for Liberty

Honolulu Navy League

Honolulu Traffic

House Minority Blog

Imua TMT

Inouye-Kwock, NYT 1992

Inside the Nature Conservancy

Inverse Condemnation

Investigative Project on Terrorism

July 4 in Hawaii

Kakaako Cares

Keep Hawaii's Heroes

Land and Power in Hawaii

Legislative Committee Analysis Tool

Lessons in Firearm Education

Lingle Years

Managed Care Matters -- Hawaii

Malama Pregnancy Center of Maui

MentalIllnessPolicy.org

Military Home Educators' Network Oahu

Missile Defense Advocacy

MIS Veterans Hawaii

NAMI Hawaii

Natatorium.org

National Christian Foundation Hawaii

National Parents Org Hawaii

NFIB Hawaii News

No GMO Means No Aloha

Not Dead Yet, Hawaii

NRA-ILA Hawaii

Oahu Alternative Transport

Obookiah

OHA Lies

Opt Out Today

OurFutureHawaii.com

Patients Rights Council Hawaii

PEACE Hawaii

People vs Machine

Practical Policy Institute of Hawaii

Pritchett Cartoons

Pro-GMO Hawaii

P.U.E.O.

RailRipoff.com

Rental by Owner Awareness Assn

ReRoute the Rail

Research Institute for Hawaii USA

Rick Hamada Show

RJ Rummel

Robotics Organizing Committee

School Choice in Hawaii

SenatorFong.com

Sink the Jones Act

Statehood for Guam

Talking Tax

Tax Foundation of Hawaii

The Real Hanabusa

Time Out Honolulu

Trustee Akina KWO Columns

UCC Truths

US Tax Foundation Hawaii Info

VAREP Honolulu

Waagey.org

West Maui Taxpayers Association

What Natalie Thinks

Whole Life Hawaii

Yes2TMT