Reflections on School District Consolidation in Michigan. Working Paper #16 PDF Download
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Author: Charles L. Ballard
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Languages : en
Pages : 7
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In recent years, Michigan has seen a great deal of discussion of consolidation of school districts. In this brief essay, the author hopes to make clear that it is "impossible" to come to a definitive, airtight conclusion that is beyond controversy. School district consolidation, like so many other issues of public policy, is "inherently" controversial. This is because the decision of whether to consolidate does not rest solely on dispassionate analysis of data. Inevitably, the decision must also be based on values. In discussions of consolidation, the most frequently cited benefit is the reduction in expenditure that might occur when two or more districts are merged. The costs of consolidation that are cited most often are the loss of local control of education, and possibly the loss of institutions that have helped to shape the identity of the local community. This description of the salient benefits and costs has been very brief. Nevertheless, it raises a host of questions. Perhaps the biggest of these questions is how to value local control and local identity. Clearly, the answer will depend on the values of the person who is making the evaluation. The author will provide some thoughts, based on his own values. But once again the author must emphasize that other people, with other values, could reach different conclusions. (Contains 5 footnotes.).
Author: Charles L. Ballard
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ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 7
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Book Description
In recent years, Michigan has seen a great deal of discussion of consolidation of school districts. In this brief essay, the author hopes to make clear that it is "impossible" to come to a definitive, airtight conclusion that is beyond controversy. School district consolidation, like so many other issues of public policy, is "inherently" controversial. This is because the decision of whether to consolidate does not rest solely on dispassionate analysis of data. Inevitably, the decision must also be based on values. In discussions of consolidation, the most frequently cited benefit is the reduction in expenditure that might occur when two or more districts are merged. The costs of consolidation that are cited most often are the loss of local control of education, and possibly the loss of institutions that have helped to shape the identity of the local community. This description of the salient benefits and costs has been very brief. Nevertheless, it raises a host of questions. Perhaps the biggest of these questions is how to value local control and local identity. Clearly, the answer will depend on the values of the person who is making the evaluation. The author will provide some thoughts, based on his own values. But once again the author must emphasize that other people, with other values, could reach different conclusions. (Contains 5 footnotes.).
Author: David Arsen
Publisher:
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Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 14
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School district consolidation enjoys a unique status among strategies to reduce education costs. It promises to cut spending, without lowering service quality, by improving the efficiency of service delivery. In contrast to strategies aimed at lowering employee salaries or benefits--which are hard to avoid when cutting spending in any labor intensive service--consolidation's savings are often presented as essentially free, with no obvious losers. School district consolidation is not new. Indeed Michigan (and the United States) experienced a great wave of school consolidation after World War II. In fact, the number of school districts fell by about 85 percent between 1940 and 1970; the pace of consolidation has since slowed considerably. In this paper, the author offers some observations intended to inform the discussion of school consolidation in Michigan. He will start by reviewing the very limited evidence on the magnitude of potential consolidation savings in Michigan. Next, he will suggest factors that policymakers ought to consider when assessing whether consolidation is appropriate. He will argue that, while there are untapped consolidation savings, the magnitude of those savings is surely smaller than commonly imagined and some are concentrated in unexpected places. Finally, he will turn from economic to political considerations and ask who should decide where consolidation takes place. (Contains 16 footnotes.) [For its related report, "Reaction to "Observations on School District and Service Consolidation in Michigan. Working Paper #17". Working Paper #18," see ED537162.].
Author: Sharif M. Shakrani
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Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 4
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The author's "School District Consolidation Study in 10 Michigan Counties" study was published in August, 2010 by The Education Policy Center at Michigan State University. It was intended to measure the financial impact of consolidation of schools at the county level akin to other states like Virginia, Florida and Maryland. The study was recently critiqued by his colleague at Michigan State University, Dr. David Arsen in a paper entitled, "Observation on School District and Service Consolidation in Michigan" (January, 2011). Professor Arsen concludes that the most striking feature of the study is its assumption that the rate of saving would be the same for every district. A careful reading of the paper would clearly indicate this is not the case. The author specifically states that the estimated saving percentage "may not apply equally to all size districts." The average numbers may over-estimate the saving for school districts with 10,000 or more students and under-estimate the savings for districts with 1,500 or less students. The linear straight line regression equation is intended as an overall estimate for the 10 counties studied, and by its mathematical traits will over estimate for some districts and under estimate for others. There are virtually no comprehensive and scientifically designed research studies on the financial impact of consolidation at the county level. Most of the studies deal with the specific consolidation of few districts in rural areas, so it is not possible to judge which estimates are accurate and which are not. In most cases judgments are made based on emotions by proponents, or opponents, of school consolidation. [For the report, "Observations on School District and Service Consolidation in Michigan. Working Paper #17," see ED537161.].
Author: Sharif M. Shakrani
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 32
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As Duncomb and Yinger (2001) have stated, "School consolidation represents the most dramatic change in education governance and management in the United States in the twentieth century. Over 100,000 school districts have been eliminated through consolidation since 1938, a drop of almost 90 percent (NCES 1999, Table 90). This longstanding trend continues throughout the country, largely because consolidation is widely regarded as a way for school districts to cut costs" (p. 1). The study described in the present paper applies Duncomb and Yinger's methods to Michigan data, looking as possible to financial consequences of consolidation of school districts at the county level. Research data sets for 10 counties in Michigan are used to estimate cost-saving effects of consolidation, as in the Duncombe and Yinger study. It appears that significant savings can be achieved in consolidating school districts at the county level. The coordination of services also produces cost savings for the districts assuming participation in a county level (ISD) coordination of services. These findings are consistent with other research studies in New York and Indiana. However, consolidation studies conducted in Arizona and New Jersey indicated that the fiscal savings hoped for did not materialize to the extent expected. Overall, consolidation seems to make fiscal sense, particularly in rural and small districts. The coordination of services seems more palatable to Michigan communities and also produces significant reduction in cost of services such as transportation and operation. The results of this study should be of interest to state and local elected officials, to state education agency staff, and to public school administrators. The Future of School Districts Consolidation in Michigan is provided in an addendum. (Contains 1 footnote.) [This study was funded by the Booth Newspapers of Michigan.].
Author:
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Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 1290
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Author:
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ISBN:
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 1032
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Author: Aimee Howley
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Category : Busing for school integration
Languages : en
Pages : 2
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Author: Allan Odden
Publisher: Ingram
ISBN: 9781259922312
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 0
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Author: Jeffrey Mirel
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 506
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The updated edition of a highly-regarded work in educational studies.
Author: Craig B. Howley
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ISBN:
Category : Dropouts
Languages : en
Pages : 2
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