A recent columnist compared Alaska and Mississippi in the percentage of the state budgets that goes to K-12 education.
That simplistic view avoids the real story about the huge difference between Alaska and Mississippi state government spending.
In Fiscal Year 2023, Alaska spent $21,485 per capita for state government. That was by far the highest in the country — 44% higher than the second-highest state and 2.7 times Mississippi state spending per capita of $8,058.
That doesn’t include the fact that Alaska is also number one in the nation in federal spending (excluding defense spending), receiving $8,628 per person, while Mississippi received $6,880 per person.
Cost of living is not a very good explanation for our enormous budget differential with other states. Alaska has the 13th highest cost of living in the US and the lowest cost of living of any state that touches the Pacific Ocean according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities — putting Alaska’s cost of living at just 1.4% above the US average.
As far as K-12 spending, Alaska was ranked the 2nd most adequately funded education system in the U.S. in K-12 funding adequacy, scoring 95 out of a possible 100 according to a recent study from Rutgers University. Misssisppi scored a 23 out of 100 and was ranked 40th in the U.S. in K-12 funding adequacy.
Despite the difference in funding adequacy, the difference in student outcomes is pretty stunning in favor of Mississippi — despite having nearly double the poverty rate of Alaska, Mississippi was first in the nation in 4th grade NAEP reading scores for low-income 4th graders while Alaska ranked 50th in 2024.
Strong educational outcomes aren’t predetermined by funding or poverty rates. Mississippi has put the actual policy reform in place that is making a difference, and it’s time for Alaska to do the same.
Bob Griffin is a former member of the Alaska Board of Education and Early Development and a life-long learner.
