New York state led the nation in education spending for the fourth straight year — shelling out nearly $17,200 per student, compared to the national average of $10,259.
Most of that difference arose from the state’s sky-high spending on instructional salaries and benefits in 2007-08 — which on its own exceeded the total spent per student in 39 states, according to The Empire Center for New York State Policy director E.J. McMahon.
“The unions’ priority can be summed up in one word: more,” McMahon told The Post. “They always want more, and everyone says it’s for the kids. But everybody knows who it’s really for: It’s for the adults.”
A spokesman for New York State United Teachers said the state’s money went toward raising academic standards and helping students earn Regents high-school diplomas.
“New York is a high-cost state,” he said. “Most teachers’ salaries are fair. Many others earn far less than what they deserve.”
The state’s spending for the 2007-08 school year represented a 7.5 percent increase over 2006-07, according to US Census data.
New Jersey spent the second most on education that year, at $16,491 per kid, while Utah spent the least, at $5,765.