School District Service Provision Methods

The Citizens Research Council of Michigan is currently engaged in a comprehensive study of public education in Michigan. Funded by several organizations*, the Education Finance and Reform project will provide an analysis of Michigan's public education system focusing on its governance, funding, and service provision structures and their sustainability.

CRC recently released the first paper in this long-term project, Public Education Governance in Michigan (CRC Report #359). This report provides an analysis of the roles and functions of the different levels of government and how governance is affected by the multitude of actors, government agencies, and groups with an influence over and/or interest in education governance and funding.

The next report to be released will analyze financial support for K-12 education by reviewing the current funding structure created by the passage of Proposal A in 1994. This will include a summary of the major financing provisions of Proposal A, an analysis of the revenues supporting K-12 education, a review of state funding for education through the foundation allowance formula and categorical grants, and a discussion of potential school finance reforms.

Future reports will analyze the role charter schools currently play in the provision of education in Michigan, potential reforms to the governance system, cost pressures facing districts and possible spending reforms, the reorganization of school districts, and school district service provision and collaboration.

This survey is a major part of our research into school district service provision and collaboration. This part of the education study is focused on understanding how districts are currently organized to provide services to students and the ways they have already found to introduce efficiencies. CRC is surveying all local and intermediate school districts in Michigan to determine what services they provide and how they provide them (e.g., are they providing a service directly, jointly, or in some other way). The goal is to identify cooperative arrangements in place, service areas where increased collaboration makes sense, and service areas where barriers to cooperation exist (barriers can be financial, political, or legal). Collaboration takes place among districts, between districts and other forms of government (e.g., the state or cities), and between districts and private providers (i.e., privatization). Cooperative arrangements can reduce costs and enhance efficiency, but may also be used to improve educational quality in districts.

The results of this survey will be catalogued and analyzed to identify service delivery trends, economic attributes that impact multi-jurisdictional approaches to service delivery, and best practices that can be replicated across the state. Survey responses will be made available online and easily accessible so that school districts, policy analysts, and concerned citizens can go beyond CRC's reports in analyzing the data.

CRC performed a similar study five years ago to better understand service delivery methods for general-purpose local governments in Michigan (CRC Memorandum #1079, Report #346, and Report #354, www.crcmich.org/PUBLICAT/pubs.html). The survey of local governments was the first of its kind in the nation and this survey of school districts will likewise provide data heretofore unavailable in a single source. We think it will provide information that all school districts will be able to use to assure the most effective and efficient provision of school services in a time of severely constrained resources. Enclosed you will find a letter of support for this project from William Mayes of the Michigan Association of School Administrators.

A hardcopy of the survey has been mailed to all participants. You may fill out the hard-copy form and return the questionnaire in the self-addressed envelope or you can complete the same form online. By completing the survey online, you will save postage and data entry time. Although the questionnaire appears lengthy, it does not ask for costs or other information that would require some research. Simply indicate the service delivery methods employed by your school district. The survey was pre-tested by a sample of school districts, and they reported no difficulties in filling it out. In pilot districts, the survey was completed by district superintendents with some help from other top administrators.

The results of this project are eagerly anticipated by the school community and state policymakers, but we need your participation to obtain a complete picture of the possibilities and constraints facing school districts in the State of Michigan

I hope you will assist us in the completion of this project. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact either Eric Lupher or Jill Roof at 734.542.8001.