The National Education Association rankings report

The National Education Association periodically publishes an interesting rankings report. (Looking at the NEA “Rankings of the States 2009″ downloaded from the NEA web site.)
http://www.nea.org/home/30896.htm

Statistically, it seems CA is behind other states in per capita income though a bit above the average. What I see is a state where taxes per capita or per income are above average, state spending on all education is well above average, and teacher income is at or near the top. Spending per K-12 student is a little above average or a little below average (depending on the year) but hardly the bottom. It is near the top in K-12 capital spending, even though the percentage growth in enrollment is not near the top. It is spending proportionately more on higher education than most states and more than most on education overall.

As for a correlation between NAEP scores and spending, funny you should mention that, I did an analysis myself and found correlation coefficients on the order of 0.2 which is meaningless. Can you provide access to your numbers? A spreadsheet perhaps? What correlation coefficient did you get in which subject populations? What years did you cover? I will try to post mine ASAP and provide access to it.

Out of 50 states and the D. of C.,
CA is #1 in teacher salaries in 2007-2008, #2 in 2008-2009 (C-16, C-18, pg 21)
CA = #5 in growth of teacher’s salaries over the 10 years 1998-2008 in constant dollars.
CA = #9 in per capita personal income (D3, p26)
CA = #5 in per capita state and local tax revenue
CA = #22 in Public school revenue per student ADA 2007-2008 (F-3, p 39)
CA = #22 in Public school revenue per $1,000 of personal income 2007 (F-5, p 40)
CA = #15 in per capita expenditures for all education (H-3, p 52)
CA = #3 in per capita capital spending for public K-12 schools (H-19, p 58)

Let us not forget to throw in cost of living adjustments for states. Those are available only after years of study and self denial in the bowels of the national archives here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Household_income_in_the_United_States
Near the bottom of the entry under “Income by state”. California is ranked 9th in personal income before COL and 34th after COL adjustment. Not a rich state.