www.statestats.com/edrank03.htm
This column shows how each state ranked in the 2002-2003 Smartest State Award competition. Please note that these results are not directly comparable to this years rankings due to changes in factors. METHODOLOGY -This second Smartest State designation is awarded based on 21 factors chosen from Morgan Quitnos annual reference book, Education State Rankings, 2003-2004 . Most of the factors are the same as those used to determine last years award. However, based partially on feedback from readers, four factors were replaced. Gone are factors measuring the percent of teachers with training for IEP students, the percent of teachers stating that physical conflicts among students were a problem at their school and the percent of teachers who believed that routine duties and paperwork interfered with their jobs. Also dropped was the average teacher salary, a factor that many readers contended unfairly favored states with high costs of living. Instead, we have retained the factor relating average salary to a states average annual pay. The new factors measure special education pupil-teacher ratios, students writing ability and the interest parents take in homework. To determine the Smartest State rankings, the 21 factors were divided into two groups: those that are negative for which a high ranking would be considered bad for a state, and those that are positive for which a high ranking would be considered good. Rates for each of the 21 factors were processed through a formula that measures how a state compares to the national average for a given category. The positive and negative nature of each factor was taken into account as part of the formula. Once these computations were made, the factors then were assigned equal weights. These weighted scores then were added together to get a states final score Smart Rating on the table above. This way, states are assessed based on how they stack up against the national average. The end result is that the farther below the national average a states education ranking is, the lower and less smart it ranks. The farther above the national average, the higher and smarter a state ranks. This same methodology is used for our annual Healthiest State, Safest and Most Dangerous State and Safest/Dangerous City Awards. The table above shows how each state scored in Morgan Quitnos second annual Smartest State Award. The table above shows how each state scored in Morgan Quitnos second annual Smartest State Award.
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