School restructure plan flawed
Bangor Daily News, January 18, 2007
(excerpt) But do we spend more on administration? The results are mixed. From 1999 to 2003, according to the National Center for Educational Statistics, Maine averaged $65 per pupil more for administration than was the national average — about 10 percent higher. But in 2003-04, Maine’s per-pupil expenditures on administration were actually $16 less than the national average.
And do we spend more per student than the national average? Commissioner Gendron cites a single year (2004-05) when Maine was almost $2,000 above. But U.S. Department of Education data show that Maine’s average current expenditure totals between 1999 and 2004 were $1,087 above the national average. Yes, we do spend more and we have the distinction of placing second in the nation in the percent of our expenditures that go directly to "instruction and instruction-related activities."
…
The administration and the authors of last fall’s reports apparently paid little attention to these other staff and service costs. Maine consistently spends less in these other staffing areas than does the nation — $290 per student less on average between 1999 and 2003! Put another way, staff support for students and teachers in Maine schools is provided primarily by administrators, with substantially less specialized and auxiliary assistance than is present in many other states’ school districts.
The picture emerging from these facts is one of considerable administrative efficiency: We pay $65 more for administration but $290 less for other staffing and our product is better, as measured by National Assessment of Educational Progress test scores, than most every other state’s. In 2003-04, Maine’s percent of expenditures devoted to administration was actually the fourth lowest in the United States!
Click on the title to read the whole piece!
Bangor Daily News, January 18, 2007
(excerpt) But do we spend more on administration? The results are mixed. From 1999 to 2003, according to the National Center for Educational Statistics, Maine averaged $65 per pupil more for administration than was the national average — about 10 percent higher. But in 2003-04, Maine’s per-pupil expenditures on administration were actually $16 less than the national average.
And do we spend more per student than the national average? Commissioner Gendron cites a single year (2004-05) when Maine was almost $2,000 above. But U.S. Department of Education data show that Maine’s average current expenditure totals between 1999 and 2004 were $1,087 above the national average. Yes, we do spend more and we have the distinction of placing second in the nation in the percent of our expenditures that go directly to "instruction and instruction-related activities."
…
The administration and the authors of last fall’s reports apparently paid little attention to these other staff and service costs. Maine consistently spends less in these other staffing areas than does the nation — $290 per student less on average between 1999 and 2003! Put another way, staff support for students and teachers in Maine schools is provided primarily by administrators, with substantially less specialized and auxiliary assistance than is present in many other states’ school districts.
The picture emerging from these facts is one of considerable administrative efficiency: We pay $65 more for administration but $290 less for other staffing and our product is better, as measured by National Assessment of Educational Progress test scores, than most every other state’s. In 2003-04, Maine’s percent of expenditures devoted to administration was actually the fourth lowest in the United States!
Click on the title to read the whole piece!
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