Consolidation

Terrell Thomas/Brianna Edwards

ED833

MIA=MIDTERM ISSUES ANALYSIS

Do failing schools benefit from school consolidation?

“YES” SIDE (Terrell)

With the continuing economic decline and the increasing pressures for schools to show improvement, many districts are seriously considering the controversial issue of school consolidation. One way many districts are trying to avoid huge consolidations is by creating charter schools. Charter schools are viewed as great solutions because they allow districts to continue to receive public funding while not having to uphold the same rules and regulations as regular public schools.

Many proponents view charter schools as a solution to the economic crisis facing public education because they recognize that it allows districts to continue to receive federal and state funding while serving fewer students. With many charter schools promising to challenge students more academically, more advanced students tend to leave public schools in favor of this promise. Charters decrease the quality of education for students who stay behind by bleeding off caring parents and motivated students (Clabaugh, 2009). As public schools lose more funding and the better performing students, the struggle to compete academically by purchasing updated computers and equipment, hiring more experienced faculty and staff, and increasing state and national test scores not only continues, but also increases.

With charter schools being controlled by fewer rules and regulations than public schools, much room is left for mistakes in allocations of funding. According to a report by Clabaugh (2009), a Philadelphia charter was discovered to have spent only 38.4 percent of its budget on instruction while the remainder went for niceties such as legal fees, travel, meals, and entertainment. Taxpayers’ money is not always used effectively or appropriately. Without specific budget regulations, the directors of charter schools often find opportunities...