| Study Title: |
"Calculation
of the Cost of a Suitable Education in Kansas in
2000-2001 Using Two Different Analytical Approaches" |
| |
|
| Date Completed: |
May 2002 |
| |
|
| Calculated Base Costs: |
|
| Professional
Judgment Methodology: |
Range of $5,811 per pupil to $8,541
per pupil (small districts); additional costs for:
special education: $7,400-$12,000 per pupil; at-risk:
$1,900-$2,600 per pupil; English Language Learner
(ELL): $1,200 to $6,000 per pupil |
| Successful
Schools: |
Average base cost of $4,547 per pupil,
no estimate of costs for special education, at risk,
or ELL |
| |
|
| Major Recommendations: |
Raise foundation funding from $3,820 per pupil
in 2000-2001 to the equivalent of $4,650 per pupil
(22% increase) in 2000-2001 dollars and adjust
for regional cost differences;
Add pupil weights for special education (0.9 to
1.5), at-risk (0.2 to 0.6), and ELL (0.15 to 0.97)
Reexamine foundation level every 4-6 years or
when either student performance expectations or
available resources for education change dramatically;
in intervening years, a committee set up by the
legislature should increase foundation level based
on factors such as the cost-of-living index.
|
| |
|
| Special Features of the Study: |
Separate cost estimates using Professional Judgment
and Successful Schools methodologies;
Major focus in the Professional Judgment methodology
on actual programmatic needs of students with
special needs;
Proto-public engagement activities
|
| |
|
| Implementation: |
Not yet implemented |
| |
|
| Methodology: |
Professional Judgement and Successful
Schools |
| |
"Suitable education" was
defined for both methodologies using course offerings
and other programs and services as "input"
measures and percentages of students scoring satisfactory
on reading and math assessments as "output"
measures. |
| |
Professional
Judgment
|
| |
4 panels of 6-8 educators in 4 different size districts
each developed prototype schools |
| |
2 panels reviewed prototype schools and developed
prototype district activities and resources |
| |
1 "expert panel" |
| |
Panels calculated resources for students with special
needs including consideration of specific staffing
and programs required for different categories of
students (at-risk, special ed, ELL) |
| |
Successful
Schools |
| |
Input measures: state-required course offerings,
programs, and services |
| |
Output measures: reading scores in fifth, eighth,
and eleventh grades; and math scores in fourth,
seventh, and tenth grades |
| |
Schools meeting Kansas Quality Performance Accreditation
standards or making sufficient annual progress to
meet them in five years |
| |
Did not separately calculate extra costs for students
with special needs |
| |
|
| Additional Factors: |
The study analyzed transportation
funding. The study did not consider facilities,
food service, and "efficiency." |
| |
|
| Public Input: |
Informal Conversations with "60
or so" people selected by the State Education
Department and Legislative Committee |
| |
|
| Prepared for: |
Legislative Coordinating Council,
authorized by state statute |
| |
|
| Prepared by: |
Augenblick & Myers, Inc. |
