KJZZ

Arizona spent the third least amount of money per student in 2010, according to a new report from the U.S. Census Bureau. But, the state’s public schools chief says Arizona has one of the most cost-effective education systems in the country. From Phoenix, KJZZ’s Mark Brodie reports.

MARK BRODIE: The new numbers show on average, states spent $10,615 per student in 2010. In Arizona, that number was just under $7,900 a student, which put the state ahead of only Idaho and Utah. Superintendent of Public Instruction John Huppenthal doesn’t dispute the numbers, but says they don’t necessarily translate into student success.

JOHN HUPPENTHAL: We can’t get too tied into knots about the amount of cash flow we have. We have to stay focused on results, and getting better and better results is gonna be the best thing we can do to increase the amount of money that we’re getting into the education system.

BRODIE: Huppenthal says he plans to push state lawmakers for more money for schools next year. Washington, D.C. spent the most per student in 2010, followed by New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.