NC school spending falls

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - The country's largest teacher union is out with annual public school spending estimates that say North Carolina's ranking improved slightly since last year.

The North Carolina affiliate of the National Education Association said Tuesday the state's No. 42 ranking for per pupil expenditures this school year doesn't hide that spending fell a little compared to the year before -- when the NEA report ranked North Carolina 45th among 50 states and the District of Columbia for similar expenditures.

State budget critics have used low rankings as proof education suffers under Republican rule of the Legislature.

North Carolina Association of Educators President Sheri Strickland says the data show schools are hurting. Terry Stoops with the conservative John Locke Foundation wrote the figures dismiss allegations by some that North Carolina ranks 49th.