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Sandy Kress on how states can help school districts become more productive

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Learn more about William McKenzie.
William McKenzie
Senior Editorial Advisor
George W. Bush Institute

The George W. Bush Institute has commissioned a series of scholarly papers examining the productivity of school districts. In short, how much bang...

The George W. Bush Institute has commissioned a series of scholarly papers examining the productivity of school districts. In short, how much bang are they getting for the bucks that taxpayers invest in them? You can find the papers at www.bushcenter.org.

One  of the authors is Sandy Kress, a former head of the Dallas school board and a fellow at the George W. Bush Institute.  He and two education researchers have written a paper looking at just how efficiently – or inefficiently – Texas schools operate.

This is more than a theoretical concern. The Texas Constitution requires legislators to “establish and make suitable provision for the support and maintenance of an efficient system of free public schools.”

In this video, Kress addresses how well the state is meeting that goal. He also discusses incentives the state could create to help districts operate more efficiently.

For districts, this is not some academic challenge. Resources for education are shrinking at the same time requirements for students are expanding. They have no choice but to become more productive. Of course, in the end, that will benefit students, educators and taxpayers.