In a newly published study, Open the Books calculated the relationship between the increase in a state’s average teacher pay between 2019-2023 and the increase (or decrease) in NAEP (National Assessment for Educational Progress) test performance between 2019 and 2024. It found a mild negative correlation: “Higher overhead costs are associated with lower test scores.”

Virginia is a serious outlier. Pay increases (31%) in the Old Dominion exceeded those in all but four other states, while the drop in NAEP ranking (15 places) was the second worst in the nation. I invite readers to chew upon these numbers in the comments. Continue reading to see the data. — JAB