A national study says Alabama's cuts in spending for K-12 education have been deeper than nearly every other state.
The Washington-based Center for Budget and Policy Priorities says spending per pupil dropped 17.8 percent from fiscal 2008 to the current fiscal year. That is second only to Oklahoma. The study said the amount cut per student in Alabama was $1,128 between fiscal 2008 and now. That is $114 per student steeper than any other state.
The fiscal 2008 education budget was the largest budget ever passed by the Legislature at more than $6.7 billion. Then the recession caused tax collections for education to fall. The economic recovery has allowed some improvements, but current budget of $5.9 billion remains below the 2008 mark.