John Tapogna and Lisa Macfarlane made an error recently when they wrote in The Seattle Times that lawmakers in Oregon provide better funding for public schools than Washington lawmakers do in our state.

They claim that Oregon lawmakers provide 20 percent more money per student than schools receive in Washington.  Their mistake is one that is common in public policy research: depending on an unreliable or biased secondary source.

They base their conclusion on a school-funding report assembled by the National Education Association (NEA), the country’s powerful teachers union.  The NEA union and its state and local chapter unions profit directly from education spending, so its executives have every incentive to lobby for the maximum in education spending possible, separately from any benefit it may provide to students.  Teachers who do not pay the union can be fired.

NEA’s research for 2017 spending is based on projections and estimates, not finalized data.  Its research is not reliable.  For example, Table I-12 purports to show teacher salaries in the 50 states, but the figures for Washington omit money from local levies.

Local levies boost average teacher pay in Washington to $67,513, far above the reported average base pay of $54,147 provided by the state.  

Official government reports are more reliable as primary sources.  The Office of Financial Management reports that in 2017, Washington’s budgeted spending per student is $12,439.  The Oregon Department of Education reports budgeted spending per student for 2017 is $12,480, essentially equal to, not 20% more, than Washington’s funding.  The actual difference is $41.00, or 0.32%.

Mr. Tapogna and Ms. Macfarlane make another incorrect claim: “Five years after the state Supreme Court’s ruling on the McCleary lawsuit….they [lawmakers] have made so little progress that school funding advocates held a candlelight vigil earlier this month.”

It’s true activists held a candlelight vigil, but it is not true lawmakers have made little progress on school funding.

Since the 2012 McCleary decision, the legislature has increased school funding from $13.54 billion to $18.2 billion, a massive 34% increase, while inflation rose 8%. 

Democrats and Republicans in Olympia plan to add a further $3 billion for 2017-19, bringing school spending to around $21 billion.

Lawmakers have increased spending per student from $9,914 to $12,439 in 2017, with more coming in 2018 and 2019.  That is likely to be more than Oregon spends, and is more than the tuition at many private schools.

Despite these facts, the idea that Washington lawmakers and Governor Inslee are underfunding schools has become an article of faith for activists, a convenient way to signal their virtue and morality – hence the religious imagery of candlelight vigils.

The actual dollar increases that hardworking taxpayers provide is not relevant to these true believers.  The only assumption they accept is that schools need more money, which conveniently adds to the profits collected each month by the WEA union.

Passionate appeals for more money appear virtuous and high-minded, but they ignore the real sacrifices families make to shoulder a rising tax burden.  At least recognizing those sacrifices (and maybe saying “thank you”), not lighting more candles, would show real respect for the public.  It would also promote accountability for school districts, to make sure the money we all provide really goes to educating children.