Rural EducationRural EducationOpportunities & ChallengesOpportunities & ChallengesBrad Balch, Indiana State UniversityBrad Balch, Indiana State University

Brad.Balch@indstate.eduBrad.Balch@indstate.edu

Board Voices – There Are Many!Board Voices – There Are Many!

Local boards have governed for more than Local boards have governed for more than 200 years.200 years.

In 1930, there were 200,000 school In 1930, there were 200,000 school boards in the U.S. boards in the U.S. (Source: Meier, 2003)(Source: Meier, 2003)

Today, approximately 95,000 board Today, approximately 95,000 board members serve on 15,000 school boards members serve on 15,000 school boards in the U.S. in the U.S. (Source: Education Week, 9/26/2007).(Source: Education Week, 9/26/2007).

The ISBA has a membership of 290 The ISBA has a membership of 290 school boards and 1,685 board members school boards and 1,685 board members (Source: www.isba-ind.org).(Source: www.isba-ind.org).

Demographics matter too! Demographics matter too! (Source: Hess, 2002) (Source: Hess, 2002)

A 2002 study prepared for the NSBA, which A 2002 study prepared for the NSBA, which included 2,000 school districts found that large included 2,000 school districts found that large districts (i.e., 25,000+ students) are fundamentally districts (i.e., 25,000+ students) are fundamentally different from smaller districts.different from smaller districts.

Urban/Suburban districts are political bodies, with Urban/Suburban districts are political bodies, with more costly board campaigns, more attentive more costly board campaigns, more attentive interest groups, more politically oriented interest groups, more politically oriented candidates, and more hotly contested elections.candidates, and more hotly contested elections.

Rural districts are apolitical bodies, attract little Rural districts are apolitical bodies, attract little attention and feature inexpensive, often attention and feature inexpensive, often uncontested campaigns.uncontested campaigns.

However, the public image of school boards and However, the public image of school boards and school systems is largely informed by conditions school systems is largely informed by conditions prevailing in the 2% of “large” districts.prevailing in the 2% of “large” districts.

Representative Representative Rural School BenefitsRural School Benefits

(Source: Duke& Trautvetter, 2001, p.2)(Source: Duke& Trautvetter, 2001, p.2)

““Researchers for the Researchers for the Rural School and Rural School and Community Trust Community Trust looked at 13,000 schools in looked at 13,000 schools in Georgia, Montana, Ohio, and Texas and found Georgia, Montana, Ohio, and Texas and found that smaller schools consistently outperformed that smaller schools consistently outperformed larger schools.” larger schools.”

““Smaller schools posted higher scores on Smaller schools posted higher scores on standardized tests than would have been standardized tests than would have been predicted from their poverty levels alone. In other predicted from their poverty levels alone. In other words, the negative effect of poverty is reduced in words, the negative effect of poverty is reduced in smaller schools.”smaller schools.”

Representative Representative Rural School BenefitsRural School Benefits

(Source: EQR, 2003, p.45 as cited in Lawless, 2009, p.19)(Source: EQR, 2003, p.45 as cited in Lawless, 2009, p.19)

Rural schools are forging ahead with an Rural schools are forging ahead with an emphasis on using technology in the classroom. emphasis on using technology in the classroom. Some studies have found, “a higher proportion Some studies have found, “a higher proportion of rural students than urban students used of rural students than urban students used computers more than once a month at school.”computers more than once a month at school.”

Representative Representative Rural School BenefitsRural School Benefits

(Source: Lawless, 2009, p.17)(Source: Lawless, 2009, p.17)

A great advantage of many rural schools is the A great advantage of many rural schools is the tendency for smaller classes.tendency for smaller classes.

In smaller classes teachers are able to spend more In smaller classes teachers are able to spend more time with individual students and provide more time with individual students and provide more assistance to students having difficulties, which can assistance to students having difficulties, which can result in higher student achievement.result in higher student achievement.

““When looking at pupil/teacher ratio it was found that When looking at pupil/teacher ratio it was found that achievement was greater in smaller schools with achievement was greater in smaller schools with smaller classes” (Greenwald, Hedges & Laine, 1996, smaller classes” (Greenwald, Hedges & Laine, 1996, p.369 as cited in Lawless, 2009).p.369 as cited in Lawless, 2009).

Rural School ConsolidationRural School Consolidation(Source: Fanning, 1995)(Source: Fanning, 1995)

School officials and boards are under pressure School officials and boards are under pressure to run schools efficiently.to run schools efficiently.

The logic for consolidating schools springs from The logic for consolidating schools springs from the industrial era idea: Economy of Scale.the industrial era idea: Economy of Scale.

Since “A Nation at Risk”, economy of scale and Since “A Nation at Risk”, economy of scale and the pursuit of national goals encourage a “one the pursuit of national goals encourage a “one best system of schooling.”best system of schooling.”

Indiana School District Indiana School District ConsolidationConsolidation

(Source: Center for Evaluation & Education Policy – CEEP, 2007)(Source: Center for Evaluation & Education Policy – CEEP, 2007)

Indiana’s last reconsolidation started in 1959, Indiana’s last reconsolidation started in 1959, reducing over 900 districts to around 400 over reducing over 900 districts to around 400 over an 11-year period.an 11-year period.

Since 1970, the number has dropped to just Since 1970, the number has dropped to just over 290 school districts.over 290 school districts.

In 2005, a budget provision allowed for the study In 2005, a budget provision allowed for the study of consolidation of district central offices.of consolidation of district central offices.

A 2007 budget provision provided money for A 2007 budget provision provided money for districts consolidation feasibility studies or districts consolidation feasibility studies or examining service mergers with other districts.examining service mergers with other districts.

Indiana School District Indiana School District ConsolidationConsolidation

(Source: Center for Evaluation & Education Policy – CEEP, 2008)(Source: Center for Evaluation & Education Policy – CEEP, 2008)

““Although there was little solid evidence that Although there was little solid evidence that consolidation of school districts with fewer than consolidation of school districts with fewer than 2,000 students would result in tangible financial 2,000 students would result in tangible financial savings or academic gains, a case can be made savings or academic gains, a case can be made to consolidate districts with fewer than 1,000 and to consolidate districts with fewer than 1,000 and some cost efficiencies result.”some cost efficiencies result.”

““Consolidation had no proven positive impact on Consolidation had no proven positive impact on student achievement and may negatively impact student achievement and may negatively impact student achievement.”student achievement.”

““Thus, consolidation should be encouraged on a Thus, consolidation should be encouraged on a case-by-case basis.”case-by-case basis.”

http://ceep.indiana.edu/projects/PDF/PB_V5N5.pdshttp://ceep.indiana.edu/projects/PDF/PB_V5N5.pds

Indiana School District Indiana School District ConsolidationConsolidation

(Source: Center for Evaluation & Education Policy – CEEP, 2010)(Source: Center for Evaluation & Education Policy – CEEP, 2010)

Despite legislative interest in mandating consolidation, the Despite legislative interest in mandating consolidation, the results wouldn’t benefit students and would have minimal results wouldn’t benefit students and would have minimal impact, if any, on state spending on public education.impact, if any, on state spending on public education.

Proponents of consolidation argue the smaller districts are Proponents of consolidation argue the smaller districts are inefficient, have too much overhead, and spending too inefficient, have too much overhead, and spending too much on administration. “This data suggests otherwise.”much on administration. “This data suggests otherwise.”

““The data show little difference in student achievement The data show little difference in student achievement between larger and small districts.” However, districts between larger and small districts.” However, districts with more than 20,000 students had statistically lower with more than 20,000 students had statistically lower ISTEP outcomes.ISTEP outcomes.

Indiana School District Indiana School District Consolidation RecommendationsConsolidation Recommendations

(Source: Center for Evaluation & Education Policy – CEEP, 2010)(Source: Center for Evaluation & Education Policy – CEEP, 2010)

Collaborative opportunities should be explored, Collaborative opportunities should be explored, such as joint purchasing agreements on bus such as joint purchasing agreements on bus purchases and health insurance.purchases and health insurance.

Track expenditures by line item to better Track expenditures by line item to better understand how schools might operate more understand how schools might operate more efficiently and links to student achievement.efficiently and links to student achievement.

Expand the curriculums with virtual learning, Expand the curriculums with virtual learning, joint summer programs, and open enrollment.joint summer programs, and open enrollment.

Consider deconsolidation as an option too.Consider deconsolidation as an option too.http://www.ceep.indiana .edu /projects/PDF/PB_V8N3_summer_2010_EPB.pdf. http://www.ceep.indiana .edu /projects/PDF/PB_V8N3_summer_2010_EPB.pdf.

Rural School ResourcesRural School Resources(Source: North Central Regional Educational Laboratory – Learning Point Associates, 2010)(Source: North Central Regional Educational Laboratory – Learning Point Associates, 2010)

NCLB and Rural Schools NCLB and Rural Schools http://www.ncrel.org/policy/pubs/html/implicate/http://www.ncrel.org/policy/pubs/html/implicate/

Rural Student Mobility Rural Student Mobility http://www.ncrel.org/policy/pubs/html/rmobile/index.htmlhttp://www.ncrel.org/policy/pubs/html/rmobile/index.html

Challenges/Advantages of Rural Schools Challenges/Advantages of Rural Schools http://www.ncrel.org/policy/pubs/html/dichot.htmhttp://www.ncrel.org/policy/pubs/html/dichot.htm

http://www.ncrel.org/rural/PullingTogether.pdfhttp://www.ncrel.org/rural/PullingTogether.pdf Rural Programs and Services Rural Programs and Services

http://www.ncrel.org/rural/dochome.htmhttp://www.ncrel.org/rural/dochome.htm Rural Advisory Council Rural Advisory Council

http://www.ncrel.org/policy/network/rac.htmhttp://www.ncrel.org/policy/network/rac.htm Resources for Rural Schools http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/ruraled/Resources for Rural Schools http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/ruraled/