Examines the relationship between efficacy and productivity and stakeholders' attitudes about the school-based council's usefulness as a decision-making body. A survey of participating and nonparticipating staff and parents indicates that school councils' efficacy and productivity are related to noninstructional, but not student-achievement…

This paper was commissioned at the request of Kentucky's governor, who wished to ascertain whether state educational costs could be reduced by consolidating small school districts. The issue arises in the context of Kentucky's ongoing efforts to implement the Kentucky Education Reform Act of 1990 in the face of increasing state fiscal constraints.…