A new report ranks Arizona among the worst in the nation for per-pupil spending. Only Idaho and Utah spent less per student in 2012.
According to a national report released by the publication Education Week, the state spent about $8,000 per student, which is more than $3,600 below the national average.
Within the state, there’s about a $2,500 difference between highest-funded and lowest-funded districts.
In 2014, the state Supreme Court ruled that schools were shortchanged by the legislature during the recession. A judge then ordered lawmakers to boost funding by $331 million this year.