Schools can be permanently closed for many reasons -- economic rationalisation, post-disaster relocations, population decline or educational failure. Research on permanent school closures reports mostly negative and long-lasting consequences, not just for the school's staff and students, but for the local community. After the 2010/2011 Canterbury…

Over the past few decades, many state departments of education have taken over low-performing schools or districts as a school turnaround strategy. Recently, that strategy has shifted to creating new districts--managed by the state--that include schools and parts of districts that face challenges in performance. The governance structure brings…

In June 2007 the Governor of Maine signed legislation that required the state's 290 school administrative units (SAUs) to seek partners for a reorganization that would reduce the number of SAUs to approximately 80 Regional School Units (RSUs) (Maine State Legislature, 2007). This policy initiative is the first reorganization of Maine's school…

Area service agencies have been structured in many states to enhance service while preserving local school districts. A variety of patterns of cooperation have developed. In North Dakota a study team considered issues, based on the organizational and financial characteristics of existing area service agencies, about the organization of the…

One of 6 state reports of projects and programs operating in cooperation with the Regional Curriculum Project, the document highlights major topics discussed during a workshop relating to the reorganization of small school districts. The 5 major topics are "The Great Plains Project," which relates to planning for reorganization;…

Despite their autonomy in school governance, school districts are creatures of state legislatures, and changes in school district organization are necessary to keep pace with changing needs. Accordingly, the types of Wisconsin school districts are described, and state statutes governing each type of district are provided. The first type--common…

This book presents a theoretical and practical portrayal of how, when, and why public school districts build new schools. Based on extensive data analysis and a comprehensive review of the literature, the book specifies school district reorganization and the subsequent steps necessary to implement plans. It discusses how school districts relate to…

Most school consolidations have exercised a plan, but few have followed up with an evaluation. This report provides a history of consolidation in Ohio and a follow-up study of the last school consolidation to take place in Ohio in 1992. The study, conducted in 2000, included a survey of teachers, parents, and students to determine the success of…

In rural Minnesota many school districts are limited in their efforts to restructure by low enrollment, rural geographic location, meager tax base, narrow staff experience, extensive job responsibilities for staff, restricted staff development opportunities, and lack of direction in curriculum coordination. Because of actual or perceived…

School district organization in Wisconsin was never intended to be permanent or static. Changes in school district organization are a normal, ongoing process necessary to keep pace with changing needs, expectations, and conditions. Wisconsin has four different types of school districts--common school districts, Union High school districts, unified…

This paper contests a 1985 report by the Illinois State Board of Education, which asserted that small schools are inferior and inefficient, that student achievement is significantly related to school size, and that a high school enrollment of 500-1200 students is necessary for a broad choice of academic courses and extracurricular activities. It…

PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEMS IN THE UNITED STATES HAVE BEEN ORGANIZED IN DIFFERENT WAYS, BOTH WITHIN THE STATES AND FROM STATE TO STATE. IN SOME CASES SCHOOL DISTRICT STRUCTURE IS COTERMINOUS WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL UNITS AND IS "DEPENDENT" ON THEM. HOWEVER, 78 PERCENT OF PUBLIC SCHOOL ENROLLMENTS ARE IN "INDEPENDENT" SCHOOL DISTRICTS…

A STUDY WAS CONDUCTED TO DETERMINE AND ANALYZE THE COSTS OF CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN SOUTH DAKOTA, IOWA, AND MISSOURI FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR 1965-66. THIRTY SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN EACH OF THE 3 STATES (10 LARGEST, 10 MEDIAN, 10 SMALLEST) WERE INCLUDED AS THE SAMPLE POPULATION. THE PER PUPIL COSTS FOUND IN THIS STUDY SUPPORT THE…

This analysis outlines the costs and savings that would accrue if all elementary school districts in Missoula County (Montana) were consolidated or unified with Missoula County High School District for the 1993-94 school year. Following a listing of the 12 K-8 districts to be consolidated and their populations, 6 of the superintendents involved…

Local school districts have gradually lost policy-making discretion to state legislatures and bureaucracies. State-mandated reforms of school finance and academic standards (especially those involving curricular alignment with standardized tests) tend to diminish teacher autonomy and creativity, disrupt school climate, and ignore individual school…