State of education: Who makes the grade?

Oregon makes a bottom 10 list.

State of education: Who makes the grade?: "The report, 'Quality Counts 2006,' found that factors such as per-pupil spending and student demographics had less of an impact on student achievement than a state's history of raising expectations and standards.

'After more than a decade, it's fair to be asking whether the standards-based approach to education reform works. We're seeing pretty strong evidence that it does,' said Education Week Research Director Christopher Swanson."

If Utah only has to spend $4800/std, why does Oregon have to spend so much?