scholarly journals Does School District Consolidation Cut Costs?

2007 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 341-375 ◽  
Author(s):  
William Duncombe ◽  
John Yinger
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
School Districts ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Adjustment Costs ◽  
The United States ◽  
Capital Projects ◽  
School District Consolidation ◽  
District Consolidation ◽  
Capital Spending ◽  
Using Data

Consolidation has dramatically reduced the number of school districts in the United States. Using data from rural school districts in New York, this article provides the first direct estimation of consolidation's cost impacts. We find economies of size in operating spending: all else equal, doubling enrollment cuts operating costs per pupil by 61.7 percent for a 300-pupil district and by 49.6 percent for a 1,500-pupil district. Consolidation also involves large adjustment costs, however. These adjustment costs, which are particularly large for capital spending, lower net cost savings to 31.5 percent and 14.4 percent for a 300-pupil and a 1,500-pupil district, respectively. Overall, consolidation makes fiscal sense, particularly for very small districts, but states should avoid subsidizing unwarranted capital projects.

Occupational Health among Latino Workers: A Needs Assessment and Recommended Interventions

2005 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 319-347 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rafael Moure-Eraso ◽  
George Friedman-Jimenez
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
New York City ◽  
Primary Prevention ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Occupational Disease ◽  
The United States ◽  
Clinical Services ◽  
Latino Workers ◽  
Prevention Interventions ◽  
Using Data

Evidence suggests that Latino workers, along with other minority and low-income workers, face a higher risk for occupational disease than do other workers. Targeted surveillance and primary prevention interventions have been lacking or inadequate. The authors estimate the number of occupational disease deaths and new cases in Latino workers in the United States. Then, using data from New York City, they find that Latino workers are disproportionately employed in more hazardous occupations and under-represented in less hazardous jobs. They suggest a comprehensive approach to address workplace disease in Latino workers, which involves primary prevention interventions, clinical services, educational approaches, research and surveillance, unionization and organization of workers, and legislation and regulation.

scholarly journals Consolidating Rural School Districts: Potential Savings and Effects on Student Achievement

2000 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 573-583 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles Jacques ◽  
B. Wade Brorsen ◽  
Francisca G. C. Richter
Keyword(s):  
School District ◽  
School Districts ◽  
Test Scores ◽  
Economies Of Scale ◽  
Standardized Test ◽  
Rural School ◽  
Rural School Districts ◽  
School District Consolidation ◽  
School District Size ◽  
District Consolidation

AbstractOne frequently proposed policy is to consolidate rural school districts in order to save money by obtaining economies of size. The effects of school district size on both expenditures and standardized test scores are estimated for Oklahoma. Results indicate that economies of scale with respect to expenditures per student exist up to an average daily membership (ADM) of 965 students, but that as school districts become larger, tests scores decline. Even if savings in school district administration from consolidation are spent on instruction, state average test scores would decrease slightly. Thus, school district consolidation can reduce costs, but it will also reduce student learning.

How States Fund Education

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ajay Srikanth ◽  
Michael Atzbi ◽  
Bruce D. Baker ◽  
Mark Weber
Keyword(s):  
School Districts ◽  
School Finance ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
The United States ◽  
Policy Recommendations ◽  
Funding Equity ◽  
State And Local ◽  
Using Data ◽  
K 12 ◽  
Funding Disparities

In the United States, the vast majority of funding for K–12 education is provided through state and local governments to school districts. Throughout history, school districts have remained highly segregated both by income/wealth and by race, leading to reduced levels of funding available for higher need districts compared to wealthier districts. The purpose of this chapter is to analyze funding disparities within states and to determine differences between states with respect to funding equity. First, the chapter begins with a discussion of the sources of revenue for education at the state and local levels. Second, it explains the purpose and design of state aid formulas to reduce funding disparities between districts. Third, using data from the School Finance Indicators Database, the chapter calculates funding effort and progressivity indices for each state. Fourth, it provides case studies on two states with more progressive and less progressive funding, New Jersey and Illinois. Finally, the chapter concludes with policy recommendations on how states can improve their school finance systems to provide adequate levels of funding for higher need districts.

scholarly journals Economic Analysis of a Low-cost Apple Harvest-assist Unit

2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 240-247
Author(s):  
Zhao Zhang ◽  
Paul H. Heinemann
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Economic Analysis ◽  
Net Present Value ◽  
Occupational Injuries ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Work Productivity ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Apple Orchard ◽  
Apple Production ◽  
Using Data

A low-cost apple (Malus domestica) harvest-assist unit was recently developed to assist employees with fresh apple harvesting. This study reports on the economic analysis of this apple harvest-assist unit. Annual costs of the harvest-assist unit were calculated, including ownership and operational cost. Annual cost savings by increasing apple harvest efficiency, decreasing occupational injuries, improving work productivity in training, pruning, and thinning, and eliminating expenditures on purchasing ladders were calculated. When the annual costs are smaller than annual savings, the unit benefits apple orchard owners positively. Economic analysis results using orchard yields ranging from 25 to 45 Mg·ha−1 demonstrated that when the apple orchard area was larger than 7.6 ha, the unit always benefited orchard owners positively; when the orchard area was smaller than 4.2 ha, the unit always benefited orchard owners negatively. For large orchards, more than one unit was required to satisfy the operational needs. Of the top four U.S. apple production states, Washington, New York, and Michigan, benefitted from purchasing four units, three units, and two units, respectively, per typical farm. However, an average-sized orchard in Pennsylvania, would not benefit, due to small orchard size and low yield. A net present value (NPV) analysis was determined using data from Washington State, which yielded a return on the 8-year investment in the machinery of $888.44.

The Paradox of Law Enforcement in Immigrant Communities

2012 ◽  
Vol 641 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
David S. Kirk ◽  
Andrew V. Papachristos ◽  
Jeffrey Fagan ◽  
Tom R. Tyler
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Criminal Justice ◽  
Criminal Justice System ◽  
Criminal Behavior ◽  
Justice System ◽  
The United States ◽  
Immigrant Communities ◽  
Immigration Reform ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Willingness To Cooperate

Frustrated by federal inaction on immigration reform, several U.S. states in recent years have proposed or enacted laws designed to stem the flow of illegal immigrants into the United States and to facilitate their removal. An underappreciated implication of these laws is the potential alienation of immigrant communities—even law-abiding, cooperative individuals—from the criminal justice system. The ability of the criminal justice system to detect and sanction criminal behavior is dependent upon the cooperation of the general public, including acts such as the reporting of crime and identifying suspects. Cooperation is enhanced when local residents believe that laws are enforced fairly. In contrast, research reveals that cynicism of the police and the legal system undermines individuals’ willingness to cooperate with the police and engage in the collective actions necessary to socially control crime. By implication, recent trends toward strict local enforcement of immigration laws may actually undercut public safety by creating a cynicism of the law in immigrant communities. Using data from a 2002 survey of New York City residents, this study explores the implications of perceived injustices perpetrated by the criminal justice system for resident willingness to cooperate with the police in immigrant communities.

scholarly journals Canadians studying medicine abroad and their journey to secure postgraduate training in Canada or the United States

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilona Bartman ◽  
John R. Boulet ◽  
Sirius Qin ◽  
M. Ian Bowmer
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
New York ◽  
Residency Training ◽  
Workforce Planning ◽  
Postgraduate Education ◽  
The United States ◽  
Medical Council ◽  
Success Rates ◽  
Provider Group ◽  
Using Data

Background: From national and international workforce perspectives, Canadians studying medicine abroad (CSAs) are a growing provider group. Some were born in Canada whereas others immigrated as children. They study medicine in various countries, often attempting both American and Canadian medical licensure pathways. Methods: Using data from the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) and the Medical Council of Canada (MCC), we looked at CSAs who attempted to secure residency positions in both Canada and the United States. We detailed the CSAs’ countries of birth and medical education. We tracked these individuals through their postgraduate education programs to enumerate their success rate and categorize the geographic locations of their training. Results: The majority of CSAs study medicine in one of 10 countries. The remainder are disbursed across 88 other countries. Most CSAs were born in Canada (62%). Approximately 1/3 of CSA from the 2004-2016 cohort had no record of entering a residency program in Canada or the United States (U.S.). Recently graduated CSAs were most likely to secure residency training in Ontario and New York. Conclusion: Many CSAs attempt to secure residency training in both Canada and the U.S. Quantifying success rates may be helpful for Canadians thinking about studying medicine abroad. Understanding the educational pathways of CSAs will be useful for physician labour workforce planning

Benefits of the United States nationwide plumbing efficiency standards

2003 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 231-237 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.A. Dickinson ◽  
L.A. Maddaus ◽  
W.O. Maddaus
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Nationwide Survey ◽  
The United States ◽  
Hot Water ◽  
Water Production ◽  
Water Savings ◽  
Capital Projects ◽  
Original Report

In 2000, the American Water Works Association (AWWA) and California Urban Water Conservation Council partnered to study the merits of the United States National Plumbing Efficiency Standards. The study develops information on the value of the national plumbing standards, based on a nationwide survey of water supply utilities. Using base year 1999 water production levels, the study found forecasted water production due to the national plumbing code reduced by 5 per cent in 2010, climbing to 8 per cent water savings by 2020. Average utility savings of US$26 per person extrapolated to the United States as a whole amount to about US$7.5 billion in reduced infrastructure costs due to the national plumbing code. Including energy benefits from hot water savings, the total dollar savings to communities is higher at US$35 billion in the United States. This paper highlights an example methodology into the overall assessment of water and cost savings from water conservation programs. This methodology, more fully presented in the original report document, is particularly useful for water agencies quantifying benefits when seeking to avoid acquiring new source water supplys and/or defer building capital projects.

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