Thursday, December 5, 2013

Weighted Student Formula Yearbook 2013 - Reason Foundation

Reason Foundation - Weighted Student Formula Yearbook 2013:

Weighted Student Formula Yearbook 2013

Examining the results in districts using portable student funding


The Houston Independent School District scored an A+ thanks to significant test score improvements by disadvantaged students and a significant closing of the achievement gap between affluent and low-income students, according to Reason Foundation’s new Weighted Student Formula Yearbook.

Examining 14 school districts currently using portable student funding, the Weighted Student Formula Yearbook grades and ranks each district in 10 categories, including test scores, achievement gaps, graduation rates, and transparency.

“Some of the country’s largest school districts are now using portable or backpack funding systems that allow money to follow students to their schools,” said Lisa Snell, co-author of the report and director of education at Reason Foundation. “This study gives us the ability to make apples-to-apples comparisons, identify what’s helping kids, and flag what may need to be done differently.”

Houston outperformed all other districts, scoring an A+ in the rankings due in large part to an impressive reduction in achievement gaps. Hartford, Cincinnati
- See more at: http://reason.org/studies/show/weighted-student-formula-yearbook#sthash.8GkxhNgM.dpuf