Dollars And Sense II
This report deepens the argument for small schools in three important ways. First, analysis of more than three thousand construction projects shows that smaller schools are no more expensive to build than much larger schools. Second, analysis of the budgets of 25 good small schools throughout the United States demonstrates that on average they spend less per student on educational program, maintenance and operations than the per-pupil expenditure in their districts, yet they achieve results that are equal to or better than schools in the same area. Third, these schools offer innovative and effective educational programs, facilities, and strategies for cost effectiveness that can serve as models and inspiration to people interested in cost-effective good small schools. A complete Appendix containing contact information, budgets, test scores, and references follows the text.
Dollars And Sense II (pdf) ••••••
To order a hard copy, click here.
The Charter School Facility Finance Landscape
Conducted by LISC’s Educational Facilities Financing Center (EFFC), this national mapping survey of private nonprofit and public providers of funding for charter school facilities is the first comprehensive listing of its kind. Based on extensive research and interviews, the survey includes descriptions of financing products and geographic markets for active private nonprofit providers, public-private partnerships, and public initiatives. The report also includes all available Web sites and statutory references, with active links in the electronic version.
Mapping Survey (pdf)
Dollars & Sense: The Cost
Effectiveness of Small Schools
Barbara Kent Lawrence, Steven Bingler, Barbara M. Diamond, Bobbie Hill,
Jerry Hoffman, Craig B. Howley, Stacy Mitchell, David Rudolph, and Elliot
Washor, 2002
This policy brief summarizes research on the educational and social benefits
of small schools and the negative effects of large schools on students, teachers,
and members of the community, as well as the “diseconomies of scale”
inherent in large schools. As the research shows, measuring the cost of education
by graduates, rather than by all students who go through the system, suggests
that small schools are a wise investment. In addition, this report answers
two fundamental questions: can small schools be built cost effectively, and
has anyone done so?
Dollars and Sense (pdf)
The Effects of Size of Student Body on School Costs
and Performance in New York City High Schools
Leanna Stiefel, Patrice Iatarola, Norm Fruchter, and Robert Berne, 1998
This study found small schools to be a better investment when the cost of
dropouts is considered. Researchers studied school-level data on budget expenditures,
student characteristics, and performance for over 130 of the city's secondary
schools. They found that although small high schools have higher costs per
student, once the higher graduation rates and lower dropout
rates are factored
in, the small schools have the lowest cost per graduate in the entire New
York City system.
Cost Per Graduate (pdf)
Qualified Public Education Facilities (QPEF)
QPEFs are a potential funding mechanism for both charters and public schools.
This funding mechanism allows state or federal agencies to enter into a
public-private partnership with a for-profit organization, under which the
for-profit agrees to construct, rehabilitate, refurbish or equip a public
school facility. Such a partnership would usually be under a lease agreement.
At the end of its term, ownership is to be transferred to the public school
for no additional consideration.
The Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 changed Section
142 of the Internal Revenue Code to allow states to issue tax-exempt bonds
for qualified public educational facilities. Read more here.
QPEF Fact Sheet (pdf)
See examples of Michigan’s guidelines. http://www.michigan.gov/treasury/0,1607,7-121-1752_21360-67517--,00.html
Download New Tax Law Boosts School Construction with Public-Private Partnerships,
an article published by The Heritage Foundation that outlines how QPEFs can
potentially offer more timely school construction, lower construction costs
an increased community use
QPEF Article (pdf)
Qualified Zone Academy Bonds (QZAB)
QZAB funds can be used for school renovation or repair projects, purchasing
equipment, developing curricula, and/or training school personnel. The government
pays the interest on the bonds - potentially paying up to 50
percent of the construction costs. (This is a tax credit bonds program, not
a grant program.)
To be eligible, schools must: 1) be in an enterprise or empowerment zone or
expect to have at least 35% of students on free or reduced lunch; 2) receive
at least ten percent of the value of the money borrowed from their business
in the form of cash, goods, services, internships or field trips that provide
educational opportunities to students.
Read the QZAB Frequently Asked Questions web page prepared by the
U.S. Department of Education.
Download the U.S. Department of Education QZAB handbook, Fixing Our Schools
Now!
QZAB Handbook (pdf)
http://www.ed.gov/programs/qualifiedzone/faq.html
Download Early Returns: Tax Credit Bonds and School Construction,
an article in which Sara Mead of the Progressive Policy Institute analyzes
the results of QZABs to date in order to inform policymakers, advance the
debate over federal school construction aid, and provide more effective support
for schools and states in need.
QZAB (pdf)
Request a draft copy of How to Allocate and Manage a State’s Qualified
Zone Academy Bond Program.
http://www.qzabs.com/manual_page.htm
USDA's Rural Housing Service
The Community Facilities Program provides a flexible financing program for
rural America that is versatile and capable of financing a wide variety of
projects, including schools and community centers. To be eligible, facilities
must be located in communities of less than 20,000. Follow the link to Public
Bodies Opportunities and then click on Community Facilities or link directly
to: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rhs/cf/non_profit_cf.htm#Community
%20Facilities%20Direct%20Loan?
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Schools Resources
All learning begins when our comfortable
ideas turn out to be inadequate. — John Dewey
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