Final answer:
New York is the state that spent the most per pupil among the five most populous states in 2008, according to a 2009 article by Catherine Rampell.
Step-by-step explanation:
Based on the information provided, it appears that New York spent the most money per pupil among the five most populous states in 2008. This conclusion comes from a 2009 article by Catherine Rampell, which indicates that New York's schools had the highest per capita spending on education.
Although the exact numbers are not cited in the extracts given, the provided reference to the source by Catherine Rampell, combined with the high percentage of state spending on education (19%) as depicted in the state spending pie chart, support this conclusion.