By Steve Gunn
EAGnews.org

CHEYENNE, Wyoming – The unions keep saying schools need more tax dollars to be successful. But mounting evidence suggests otherwise.

The latest evidence comes from Wyoming, which spent $15,997 per student in 2011, ranking fifth among the 50 states. Over the past 20 years, Wyoming has increased spending on public education more than any other state except New York.

MORE NEWS: Know These Before Moving From Cyprus To The UK

But a recent Harvard University study ranked Wyoming 24th out of 41 states in growth measured by student scores on a national assessment test, according to a story published by KOTANow.com.

This is yet another reminder that taxpayers should be wary when schools ask for more money. It usually goes for higher salaries and more expensive benefits for teachers, with no demand for higher performance in the classroom.

Perhaps someday the nation will understand that schools must structure their pay scales to encourage excellence, instead of rewarding mediocrity.