Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Study: School closings 'may hinder, rarely help students' academic progress'

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Study: School closings 'may hinder, rarely help students' academic progress':

Study: School closings 'may hinder, rarely help students' academic progress'

by Mike Klonsky

In the weeks ahead, as Chicago, Philadelphia and other large urban school districts pursue large-scale school closing reform policies, I will be taking a look at some of the current research on how such policies impact the lives of students. 

Research for Action, a non-profit education research organization, has done a study of large-scale school closings which includes the impact of closings on student learning.  The study was done on behalf of the Philadelphia City Council. Philly's school district is currently moving ahead with its plan to close 37 schools.

According to RFA, research on the effects of mass closings in an unnamed district found small,