The reporting of school district efficiency: the adequacy of ratio measures

Abstract

Demands for accountability in education are not a new phenomenon, however, they have increased significantly in the recent past and have encompassed not only educational outcomes but also efficiency. In this study, ratio measures, similar to those recommended by the GASB, were compared to measures of relative efficiency determined through the use of data envelopment analysis (DEA). The consistency of the two approaches in distinguishing between relatively efficient and inefficient school districts was examined. It was found that compared to the DEA approach, the ratio measures, may be unable to provide reliable information for educational decision making.

Citation

Engert, F. (1996), "The reporting of school district efficiency: the adequacy of ratio measures", Journal of Public Budgeting, Accounting & Financial Management, Vol. 8 No. 2, pp. 247-271. https://doi.org/10.1108/JPBAFM-08-02-1996-B007