The study attempts to determine
the cost of the state Quality Performance
Accreditation (QPA), which was recently
revised to incorporate the requirements
of NCLB. The study averages seven
student performance measures, including
3 math exams, 3 reading exams, and
graduation results (weighted equally)
to develop an overall measure of district
performance.
Calculated Additional
Costs:
$115 million for 2004 outcomes; $513
million for 2007 outcomes.
For the average student, the adjusted
current school funding formula is
between 5 and 24 percent lower than
the cost function’s estimates
for the performance outcomes of 2004-2007.
For larger urban districts, the cost
function’s estimates exceed
current funding by 40 to 70 percent.
Major Recommendations:
The overall foundation level in the
General State Aid formula should be
increased to adequately support the
performance objectives of the Kansas
State Board of Education. The foundation
levels for individual districts should
also be adjusted to more accurately
reflect the costs of reaching the
desired outcomes.
Special Features of the Study:
The study includes spending on instruction,
student support, instructional support,
school administration, general administration,
operations and maintenance. Spending
on special education, transportation,
vocational education, food service,
and school facilities are not included.
Cost
Function Approach is used to estimate
base funding costs and “weights”
for enrollment, student demographics,
special needs, and other factors.
Additional Findings:
The study finds a strong association
between district spending and the
associated outcomes. The cost function
suggests that a 0.83 percent increase
in spending was associated with a
1 percent increase in district performance
measures, significant at the 0.01
confidence level
Importantly, the study finds that
the current “at-risk”
weight (0.193) applied to high-poverty
districts is considerably lower that
the cost-function’s estimates
from 0.65 in low poverty rural districts
to 1.15 in high poverty urban districts.
Public Input:
None.
Prepared for:
Legislative Division of Post Audit
Prepared by:
William Duncombe & John Yinger,
Center for Policy Research, Syracuse
University
National Access
Network, Teachers College, Columbia University. Copyright 2001-2008.
Pre-K
to 12 Students, 2003-04: 470,490