District Spending in Small and Large High Schools

Author: Frank, S., Feinberg, R.
Publisher: Education Resource Strategies
Publication Date: 2009, February
Full text available online at: http://www.educationresourcestrategies.org/documents/DistrictSpendinginSmallandLargeHighSchoolsLessonsfromBaltimoreCityBostonandChicago.pdf

Abstract (written by WestEd)

This report examines district spending on small high schools in three large urban school districts. The report enumerates three policy considerations and proffers three recommendations:

Policy Considerations
• Funding level: Districts do not always need to spend more on small high schools, but they do need to ensure a threshold level of funding for very small high schools.
  
• Spending equity: Districts attempt to equalize spending differences in a variety of ways. Efforts to increase flexibility over school resources can reduce spending differences and encourage innovation.
  
• Funding system: Awarding dollars (instead of staff) to schools can increase flexibility for all schools and offer a transparency that is helpful to districts considering the creation of small high schools.

Recommendations
• Consider the level of available resources and the necessary anticipated additional requirements.
  
• Consider mitigating spending differences by adopting a per-pupil formula and creating flexibility over resources.
  
• Address equity either by offering school choice, by minimizing size differences between schools, or by deliberately positioning small schools in areas of strategic need.