The data presented in this combined report--"Rankings & Estimates"--provide facts about the extent to which local, state, and national governments commit resources to public education. As one might expect in a nation as diverse as the United States--with respect to economics, geography, and politics--the level of commitment to education varies on a state-by-state basis. Regardless of these variations, improvements in public education can be measured by summary statistics. Thus, NEA (National Education Association) Research offers this report to its state and local affiliates as well as to researchers, policymakers, and the public as a tool to examine public education programs and services. Part I of this combined report--"Rankings 2008"--provides state-level data on an array of topics relevant to the complex enterprise of public education. Part II of this combined report--"Estimates 2009"--is in its 65th year of production. This report provides projections of public school enrollment, employment and compensation of personnel, and finances, as reported by individual state departments of education. The state-level data featured in "Estimates" permit broad assessments of trends in staff salaries, sources of school funding, and levels of educational expenditures. A glossary is included. (Contains 40 tables and 8 figures.)