This is what I've dug up quickly on WA state:

3. Teacher Salaries. Teachers in our state are paid primarily based on how long they've had their job, not on how well they do it. Unfortunately, the state's rigid salary structure (a gift from the teachers' union) means some excellent teachers are paid less than they're worth, while some poor teachers (who probably shouldn't be in the classroom at all) are paid more. The average teacher salary in Washington state is $45,265. Factoring in benefits and supplemental contracts puts the average total compensation at $61,620.

4. Spending per pupil. Figuring out how much Washington spends per pupil each year in K-12 schools is like trying to pick up a wet bar of soap. The numbers are elusive. The most recent data from OSPI say the state spends $9,454 per pupil. The most recent estimates from the National Education Association put the figure as high as $10,127. Even erring on the low side, are we ready to say we can't provide most children with a quality education for $9,454 a year?
Based on my understanding of what is happening to California's budget and mini-economy, it's probably not a good barometer to compare against the other fifty states.