School Financing in Jamaica: An Exploration of the Allocation of School Resources

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valentina Chegwin ◽  
Cynthia Hobbs ◽  
Agustina Thailinger
Keyword(s):  
Impact Evaluation ◽  
Evaluation Studies ◽  
Disadvantaged Students ◽  
School Resources ◽  
Education Spending ◽  
Funding Formula ◽  
Public Resources ◽  
School Financing ◽  
The Caribbean ◽  
Different Sources

Education spending has increased significantly in Latin America and the Caribbean over the last few decades and Jamaica is no exception. The country has prioritized education within its policy agenda, with spending consistently above the regions average for more than 10 years. Despite these efforts, closing existing learning gaps between advantaged and disadvantaged students has remained a challenge. This study examines how resources are allocated to Jamaican schools and explores ways to promote equity through adjustments in education spending. Findings suggest that lower socio-economic schools rely mainly on public funds, while most high socio-economic schools income comes from donations from different sources, which can be used more flexibly. Such contributions are not always quantifiable or consistently described in the MOEYIs registries, which distorts the equitable allocation of public resources. Moreover, the funding formula used by the MOEYI is relatively new and no impact evaluation studies have been carried out to measure if it effectively responds to equitable education opportunities across schools. More information on schools access to and sources of resources would allow the MOEYI to determine more accurately whether the funds allocated to each school are sufficient to meet their real needs.

Employing needs-based funding formulae – some unavoidable tradeoffs

2017 ◽  
Vol 31 (7) ◽  
pp. 1092-1102
Author(s):  
Tal Gilead ◽  
Iris BenDavid-Hadar
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Resource Allocation ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Social Equity ◽  
School Resources ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Funding Formula ◽  
Policy Goals ◽  
Theoretical Investigations ◽  
Schooling System

Purpose The method by which the state allocates resources to its schooling system can serve as an important instrument for achieving desired improvements in levels of educational attainment, social equity and other social policy goals. In many school systems, the allocation of school resources is done according to a needs-based funding formula. The purpose of this paper is to provide a deeper understanding of some significant tradeoffs involved in employing needs-based funding formulae. Design/methodology/approach The paper is based on theoretical investigations of normative aspects involved in using needs-based funding formulae. Findings There are a number of underexplored complications and difficulties that arise from the use of needs-based funding formulae. Dealing with these involves significant tradeoffs that require taking normative decisions. Understanding these tradeoffs is important for improving the use of needs-based funding formulae. Originality/value The paper highlights three under-examined issues that emerge from the current use of needs-based funding formulae. These issues are: to what extent funding formulae should be responsive to social and economic needs? To what extent should funding formulae allow for the use of discretion in resource allocation? To what degree needs-based formulae funding should be linked to outcomes? By discussing these issues and the tradeoffs involved in them, the paper provides a deeper understanding of significant aspects stemming from the use of needs-based funding formulae. This, in turn, can serve as a basis for an improved and better informed process for decision making regarding the use of funding formulae.

scholarly journals Quantitative methods used to evaluate impact of health promotion interventions to prevent HIV infections: a methodological systematic review protocol

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrainolo Ravalihasy ◽  
Lidia Kardas-Sloma ◽  
Yazdan Yazdanpanah ◽  
Valéry Ridde
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Health Promotion ◽  
Impact Evaluation ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Evaluation Studies ◽  
Complex Interventions ◽  
Hiv Infections ◽  
Combination Prevention ◽  
Health Promotion Interventions ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Combination prevention is currently considered the best approach to combat HIV epidemic. It is based upon the combination of structural, behavioral and biomedical interventions. Such interventions are frequently implemented in a health promoting manner due to their aims, the approach that was adopted and their complexity. The impact evaluation of these interventions often relies on methods inherited from the biomedical field. However, these methods have limitations and should be adapted to be relevant for these complex interventions. This systematic review aims to map the evidence-based methods used to quantify the impact of these interventions and analyze how these methods are implemented. Methods Three databases (Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed) will be used to identify impact evaluation studies of health promotion interventions that aimed at reducing the incidence or prevalence of HIV infection. Only studies based on quantitative design assessing intervention impact on HIV prevalence or incidence will be included. Two reviewers will independently screen studies based on titles and abstracts and then on the full text. The information about study characteristics will be extracted to understand the context in which the interventions are implemented. The information specific to quantitative methods of impact evaluation will be extracted using items from the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT), the guidelines for reporting Statistical Analyses and Methods in the Published Literature (SAMPL) and the guidelines for Strengthening The Reporting of Empirical Simulation Studies (STRESS). This review will be conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. Discussion The impact evaluation of HIV prevention interventions is a matter of substantial importance given the growing need for evidence of the effectiveness of these interventions whereas they are increasingly complex. These evaluations allow to identify the most effective strategies to be implemented to fight the epidemic. It is therefore relevant to map the methods to better implement them and adapt them according to the type of intervention to be evaluated. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO CRD42020210825

scholarly journals Incentives and the Supply of Effective Charter Schools

2019 ◽  
Vol 109 (7) ◽  
pp. 2568-2612 ◽  
Author(s):  
John D. Singleton
Keyword(s):  
Charter Schools ◽  
Charter School ◽  
Equilibrium Model ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
School Funding ◽  
Disadvantaged Students ◽  
Present Evidence ◽  
Funding Formula ◽  
Funding Policies

Charter school funding is typically set by formulas that provide the same amount for students regardless of advantage or need. I present evidence that this policy skews the distribution of students served by charters toward low-cost populations by influencing where charter schools open and whether they survive. To do this, I develop and estimate an equilibrium model of charter school supply and competition to evaluate the effects of funding policies that aim to correct these incentives. The results indicate that a cost-adjusted funding formula would increase the share of disadvantaged students in charter schools with little reduction in aggregate effectiveness. (JEL H75, I21, I22, I28)

scholarly journals Merging Educational Finance Reform and Desegregation Goals

1993 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deborah M. Kazal-Thresher
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Educational Quality ◽  
School Resources ◽  
Educational Finance ◽  
Centralized Control ◽  
Finance Reform ◽  
Minority Children ◽  
Original Intention ◽  
School Financing ◽  
Low Income Families

Educational finance reforms and desegregation have both sought to address inequities in educational opportunities for minorities and low income families. The recent methods of addressing desegregation issues have tended to focus on attaining racial balance rather than educational quality, however. This paper explores how desegregation goals can be merged with educational finance reform to more systematically address educational quality in schools serving low income and minority populations. By moving toward centralized control over school financing, the inequity of school outcomes that are based on unequal school resources can be reduced. In addition, state determined expenditures when combined with desegregation monies, would meet the original intention of desegregation funds by clearly providing add-on monies for additional services for minority children, while at the same time, creating a better monitoring mechanism.

scholarly journals Payments for Environmental Services: Past Performance and Pending Potentials

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 209-234 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sven Wunder ◽  
Jan Börner ◽  
Driss Ezzine-de-Blas ◽  
Sarah Feder ◽  
Stefano Pagiola
Keyword(s):  
Impact Evaluation ◽  
Evaluation Studies ◽  
Theory Of Change ◽  
Environmental Services ◽  
Payments For Environmental Services ◽  
Past Performance ◽  
Political Will ◽  
Spatial Targeting ◽  
Economic Functioning ◽  
High Threat

We develop a theory of change for payments for environmental services (PES) to review their imminent strengths and weaknesses in light of a growing body of impact evaluation studies. We show that PES are probably at least as environmentally additional as other conservation tools, based on the limited evidence. The original vision of PES as being direct, flexible, and potentially effective remains valid, but PES design and implementation have to be upgraded in their economic functioning to better realize this potential. Adverse self-selection, inadequate administrative targeting, and ill-enforced conditionality constitute three key obstacles that may considerably hamper PES success. Policies such as spatial targeting to service density, threat and cost levels, and payment differentiation can alleviate the design challenges. PES site selection needs to further move into high-threat areas. Making adequate PES design choices also requires the political will to boost environmental effects.

scholarly journals Does Financial Education Impact Financial Literacy and Financial Behavior, and If So, When?

2017 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 611-630 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tim Kaiser ◽  
Lukas Menkhoff
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Financial Literacy ◽  
Impact Evaluation ◽  
Evaluation Studies ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Financial Education ◽  
Financial Behavior ◽  
Teachable Moment ◽  
Randomized Experiments ◽  
Middle Income

Abstract In a meta-analysis of 126 impact evaluation studies, we find that financial education significantly impacts financial behavior and, to an even larger extent, financial literacy. These results also hold for the subsample of randomized experiments (RCTs). However, intervention impacts are highly heterogeneous: financial education is less effective for low-income clients as well as in low- and lower-middle–income economies. Specific behaviors, such as the handling of debt, are more difficult to influence and mandatory financial education tentatively appears to be less effective. Thus, intervention success depends crucially on increasing education intensity and offering financial education at a “teachable moment.”

A modified household economic portfolio model for assessing impact of microfinance using diaries

2017 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hayyan Alia ◽  
Arvind Ashta ◽  
Zaka Ratsimalahelo
Keyword(s):  
Impact Evaluation ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Evaluation Studies ◽  
Specific Model ◽  
Microfinance Institutions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Additional Information ◽  
Daily Data ◽  
Social Esteem

Purpose Microfinance impact evaluation studies help in discovering client needs which are diverse, special and different from the needs of the conventional bankable clients. Thus, such area of market research is becoming essential for microfinance institutions for designing better client-centred products. In this research, the authors discuss the specific model of household economic portfolio (HEP) for qualitative impact evaluation in microfinance. The paper aims to discuss the complexity limitations of the HEP. Solutions are provided for overcoming these limitations. The modified household economic portfolio (M-HEP) model is simplified and detailed, and two types of diaries are suggested for implementing it. Design/methodology/approach First, the authors briefly review the literature on impact assessment methods in microfinance and on the HEP model. In the second part of the paper, the M-HEP is suggested and discussed in detail. In the third part, the authors present a case study to illustrate the additional information that can be generated by using our suggested research tool and model. Finally, the authors wrap up with a summary of the findings. Findings Solutions are provided for overcoming the limitations of the HEP model. The suggested model (M-HEP) is simplified and detailed, and two types of diaries are suggested for implementing it. The case study shows that, certainly, time and money are related. While time may mean money for a rich person, for a poor person, if money is not forthcoming, she may spend time on non-income generating work that adds to her social esteem. She may also consume inexpensive assets because spending time at low cost is important. Finally, she spends time in conducting activities for which she cannot afford to pay. Originality/value The paper offers two novelties. First, it details the interactions between the elements of the HEP model of Chen and Dunn. This improvement to the original model is highly important for defining the measures that are required for redrawing the economic portfolio of an individual. The second novelty is in suggesting the collection of time-use and financial daily data. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time a combined diary is used in microfinance research. These two novelties allow the application of a modified version of the highly interesting HEP model in spite of its complexity.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document