If economies of scale are important in secondary education, a greater degree of resource specialization and curriculum comprehensiveness should occur in larger secondary schools. Using New York State schools data, this study shows that scale economy sources are exhausted at relatively small enrollment levels, allowing only trivial gains in…

A comprehensive view of resource allocation requires the realization that educational resources are nonhomogeneous, can be allocated in meaningful ways at different levels and by different decision makers, and can be substituted for one another within certain boundaries. Students determine whether resources are actually used to produce educational…

Examines the experiences of New York State school districts that increased student participation between 1992 and 1996 in a statewide testing program. Increased participation rates were associated with modest declines in the percentage of passing students, unchanged dropout rates, similar spending patterns, and increased staffing levels. (MLH)

Including nonpurchased resources and differences in school sizes in the calculation of educational costs provides evidence that inequities exist in distribution of resources in New York State school districts. (JW)

The importance of the following is demonstrated: (1) striking a balance between the attention given to resource allocation practices at macro compared to microlevels of decision making; and (2) learning more about how resource allocation decisions made at one level affect practices at other levels of the educational system. (Author/GK)

Examines the potential for inconsistent resource allocation decisions to be made at different administrative levels of school districts and schools. Uses data from 654 New York school districts to show internal variation across districts in how teacher resources are distributed and evidence of inconsistency at levels of decision making. (SLD)

Uses state-collected data and microlevel indicators to examine the allocation of professional staff across elementary, secondary, and administrative schooling levels and program areas within New York State. Case studies of four districts were constructed around a distinction between disposition and utilization of teaching resources. There are…

Advises the educational administration field to pay closer attention to research developments in educational resource allocation. Presents a microlevel conceptualization of resource allocation; outlines research implications; and discusses relevant policy issues, including concerns over productivity in education and adequate distribution of…

Discusses school finance data needs, highlighting discrepancies between available data and emerging policy issues surrounding resource origination, disposition, and utilization; and data usage. Discusses some innovative data uses (allocating teachers' and students' time) in New York State and recommends ways to assure the alignment of collected…

This article discusses the possibility of a state achieving a high standard of equality of fiscal neutrality while remaining committed to local district autonomy. Wealth and taste related determinants of school district behavior in providing educational opportunities are explored. Comments by Hugh G. Petrie are given. (DF)

Explores relationships between school district enrollment and the internal allocation of resources across subject areas of the curriculum. Empirical work is based on a random sample of 79 New York state school districts and includes cross-sectional as well as longitudinal results. (MLF)

Based on pupil-specific observation data drawn from a sample of 13 fifth-grade math classrooms, this article reports efforts to develop and test an economic model of the allocation of teacher resources within classrooms. Tables provide data on teacher attention and resources. (PB)

Reports on a study which evaluated the effectiveness of an economic model of resource-allocation in explaining why resource flows may vary among students in classrooms. Thirteen fifth-grade classes were observed for variations in the supply of human resources during whole-class, small-group and individualized instruction, and supervised seat-work.…

Enrollment levels of high schools are positively related to the number of courses offered. The most common way to expand educational opportunities in communities served by small high schools is to increase enrollment, usually by means of consolidation. Size, however, is not always the predictor of course offerings, as some relatively small schools…

Classroom observation and parent interviews in 18 elementary school districts in suburban Chicago (Illinois) tested an economic model of the impact of differing administrator, parent, teacher, and student perceptions of costs on teachers' allocation of resources in the classroom. Research results and administrative implications are presented.…