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Efficient utilization of resources in public schools: a case study of New Jersey

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  • Athanasios Noulas
  • Kusum Ketkar

Abstract

The academic performance of public schools in the United States has been declining for more than two decades now, and this is a hotly debated topic since this deterioration in performance has important implications on the quality of labour and on the productivity growth of the nation (Bishop, 1989). Moreover, the performance among school districts in states varies significantly, raising questions about the factors contributing to the large variability in performance. One area where the current debate has been focused is the ability and quality of the school management to use the available resources efficiently, giving rise to the issues of a voucher system and the private management of the public schools. This study measures the efficiency of public schools for the state of New Jersey using the data envelopment analysis (DEA) method; it also examines the effect of certain socio-economic factors on efficiency. We find that the average efficiency for all schools is 81%. The wealthiest districts have an efficiency score of 88% while for the neediest districts the efficiency is 63%. However, when we adjust for socio-economic factors the difference between the two groups becomes smaller.

Suggested Citation

  • Athanasios Noulas & Kusum Ketkar, 1998. "Efficient utilization of resources in public schools: a case study of New Jersey," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 30(10), pages 1299-1306.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:applec:v:30:y:1998:i:10:p:1299-1306
    DOI: 10.1080/000368498324913
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    1. repec:kap:iaecre:v:14:y:2008:i:2:p:228-241 is not listed on IDEAS
    2. Yongil Jeon & Michael P. Shields, 2005. "Integration And Utilization Of Public Education Resources In Remote And Homogenous Areas: A Case Study Of The Upper Peninsula Of Michigan," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 23(4), pages 601-614, October.
    3. Ming-Miin Yu, 2008. "Measuring the efficiency and return to scale status of multi-mode bus transit - evidence from Taiwan's bus system," Applied Economics Letters, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 15(8), pages 647-653.
    4. Kalyan Chakraborty & John Poggio, 2008. "Efficiency and Equity in School Funding: A Case Study for Kansas," International Advances in Economic Research, Springer;International Atlantic Economic Society, vol. 14(2), pages 228-241, May.
    5. Djily Diagne, 2006. "Mesure de l'efficience technique dans le secteur de l'éducation: une application de la méthode DEA," Swiss Journal of Economics and Statistics (SJES), Swiss Society of Economics and Statistics (SSES), vol. 142(II), pages 231-262, June.
    6. Maria Alberta Oliveira & Carlos Santos, 2005. "Assessing school efficiency in Portugal using FDH and bootstrapping," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 37(8), pages 957-968.
    7. Kalyan Chakraborty & Vincent C. Blackburn, 2013. "Efficiency and Equity in Funding for Government Schools in Australia," Australian Economic Papers, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 52(3-4), pages 127-142, December.

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