An extensive study, reported in three separately published sections, was made to determine primary aspects of the current consolidation and redistricting of local school districts. Basic procedures used to gather information included a survey of related literature, visitations to county and intermediate educational agencies in Iowa and other…

Based upon the historical review and case studies reported in the first section, section II develops a rationale for restructuring the county school system or middle echelon unit of school administration in the State of Iowa and for determining the need for a unit of school government operating between local school districts and the State…

Major aspects of the project are reviewed in four chapters: (1) An introductory review of the study's background; (2) the major needs of public elementary and secondary education in Iowa and the need for a new type of educational service agency; (3) major recommendations of the study, discussed under 10 categories; and (4) major benefits resulting…

This book develops a framework to help policymakers and policy analysts understand and judge policy options, so they can construct alternatives to the reorganization of rural, small school districts. Chapter 1 introduces the reader to the book by stating the objectives and providing working definitions for "school district reorganization" and…

Developing the themes presented in sections I and II, a model is presented for the development of a multicounty regional educational service agency for a selected area of the State, comprising seven east central Iowa county school systems. Considered as a guide for planning, the model is described in seven chapters, including an introductory…

In many states renewed attempts at school reorganization may be the sole policy response to solving the rural school improvement issue. Reorganization should be resisted because benefits of reorganization are mixed, good rural schools have many strengths, and the demise of rural schools will damage the infrastructure of rural America. (JHZ)

The appendix to the study illustrates the three instruments used for gathering data and the four sets of statistical tabulations serving as a basis for the study's recommendations. The instruments are (1) a questionnaire regarding selected characteristics of Iowa county school systems; (2) a questionnaire regarding alternative methods for the…