COEUR d’ALENE — The US Census Bureau’s most recent Public Education Finances Report shows that Idaho spent less per K-12 student during the 2007-08 school year than nearly every other state.

Ranked among the 50 states and the District of Columbia, Idaho placed 50th, spending $6,931 per student.

Only Utah spent less with $5,765 per student spent that year. The national average was $10,259 per student.

“Having a great deal of money doesn’t make a school district better, but not having enough can hurt your ability to do the job,” said Tom Taggart, the director of business and operations for the Lakeland School District.

Taggart said that even with the successful passage in May of a levy of $3.25 million per year for two years, his district is still operating with a very limited budget.

“It is one thing to make do for a year or two, but when budgets are insufficient for a period of many years, it prevents you from doing what is needed,” Taggart said. “Keeping up with technology needs, textbooks, classroom materials, and libraries becomes a real challenge.”

On the Idaho State Department of Education’s web site, state schools chief Tom Luna shared his thoughts on the report: “Still, while looking at revenues and per-pupil expenditures is important, it is not the most important indicator in measuring the success of a public education system. The most important indicator is results.”

A match-up of states’ per-pupil spending amounts with their students average reading scores shows no clear link between increased per-student expenditures and high achievement results.

The National Assessment for Education Progress, also known as “the nation’s report card,” shows that in some states like New Jersey, with the second highest amount of per-pupil spending ($16,491), and Massachusetts with $13,454 per-pupil spent, more students are reading at proficient or above-proficient levels than nearly all the rest of the states.

Then in Washington, D.C., nearly at the top of the list for per pupil spending ($14,594), reading scores are the lowest in the nation.

Although Idaho spent $3,328 less per student than the national average, Idaho students scored higher than the national averages in reading and math assessments last year.

The Idaho Education Association reminded its web site readers Wednesday that Idaho has not yet felt the brunt of this year’s state education budget reduction of $128.5 million: “It will be interesting – and probably distressing – to see what happens to Idaho’s rankings a few years from now.”

Taggart believes lawmakers are doing what they can with the funds that are available to them.

“I do think that in light of the ongoing financial crisis the state has kept public education as a budget priority and has attempted to use what is available to lower the amounts of reductions,” Taggart said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.