For schools, cheaper not always better
Bangor Daily News, October 31, 2007
(excerpt) The Maine Heritage Policy Center has released a report claiming that bigger school systems may be cheaper to operate, but that the state’s smallest schools regularly outperform them.
The report, "Is Bigger That Much Better: School District Size, High School Completion, and Post-Secondary Enrollment Rates in Maine," was written by Stephen Bowen, a former Republican member of the state House of Representatives from Rockport. Bowen examined Maine’s 15 largest and 15 smallest school districts that provide high school education.
"School reform should focus on getting the best possible outcomes at a value to taxpayers," said Bowen. "Unfortunately, Maine policymakers seem more focused on district size than on working to make successful learning models more affordable."
David Connerty-Marin, communications director for the Department of Education, discounted the report’s findings. Connerty-Marin said the school consolidation law was not designed to create larger districts as a way to save money; its primary focus was to improve instruction and results.
(excerpt) The Maine Heritage Policy Center has released a report claiming that bigger school systems may be cheaper to operate, but that the state’s smallest schools regularly outperform them.
The report, "Is Bigger That Much Better: School District Size, High School Completion, and Post-Secondary Enrollment Rates in Maine," was written by Stephen Bowen, a former Republican member of the state House of Representatives from Rockport. Bowen examined Maine’s 15 largest and 15 smallest school districts that provide high school education.
"School reform should focus on getting the best possible outcomes at a value to taxpayers," said Bowen. "Unfortunately, Maine policymakers seem more focused on district size than on working to make successful learning models more affordable."
David Connerty-Marin, communications director for the Department of Education, discounted the report’s findings. Connerty-Marin said the school consolidation law was not designed to create larger districts as a way to save money; its primary focus was to improve instruction and results.
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