It is important to note that the American K-12 education system is comprised of two main sectors, which are public and private schools. Despite their advantages and disadvantages over one another, the root cause of such disparities can be found in the funding and costs. The selected study focuses on assessing the cost effectiveness of public schools on the basis of the Accountability Report Card score. The comparative analysis is conducted using independent charter schools and private schools as a template. The given article critique will focus on the fact that the superior cost effectiveness of private schools compared to public schools is a justified and prime feature of the core element of the latter, which includes accessibility, availability, and equity.
The methodology uses the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction as a database from the state of Wisconsin. The data collection time framework is based on Accountability Report Cards from 2017 and 2018 (DeAngelis, 2020). The researcher assessed the cost effectiveness factor by deriving a ratio of Accountability Report Card score with revenue per pupil. The regression models revealed that private schools are most cost-effective than traditional public schools by 30% (DeAngelis, 2020). In other words, private schools operate with more effectiveness and efficiency of education delivery in regards to investments made for each student.
It is important to note that the author of the study, Corey A. DeAngelis, is credible. He is executive director of the Educational Freedom Institute and national director of the American Federation for Children. He is an expert in educational policies and governance, which gives him substantial credibility. The logic of the article is based on the use of regression models to see cost effectiveness differences between private and public schools. In other words, the Accountability Report Card score provides information on academic performance, learning conditions, and school enrollment, and the ratio of the latter with the cost of education per student reveals cost effectiveness.
In the case of validity of the assertions made by the author, it is important to state that the calculations are accurate and reliable. The approach used is simple and effective at observing the cost effectiveness of public schools. The researcher presents both simple results and multiple regression results, where private schools rank higher in cost effectiveness. The assertions are based on the validity of the Accountability Report Card scores. However, the given critique does not primarily target the assertions rather methodology.
The core strength of the study is its simplicity, but the methodological framework does not provide a comprehensive picture of education and cost effectiveness. Public schools’ main function is to bring more equity to education rather than being highly resource-efficient (Cramer et al., 2018). The study does not factor in students’ economic disadvantage, parental education, immigration status, and socioeconomic elements. Therefore, the perceived lower cost effectiveness of public schools might be compensated by equity factors of the outcome. The author states that “private schools and public charter schools have stronger financial incentives to spend scarce education dollars efficiently than traditional public schools because schools of choice must attract their customers” (DeAngelis, 2020, p. 226). Market forces act on private schools more directly than on public schools, which results in the former being more cost-effective. In addition, public schools are tied to their regions, which ensures increased accessibility of education, whereas private schools are selected by choice.
References
Cramer, E., Little, M. E., & McHatton, P. A. (2018). Equity, equality, and standardization: Expanding the conversations. Education and Urban Society, 50(5), 483–501.
DeAngelis, C. A. (2020). The cost-effectiveness of public and private schools of choice in Wisconsin. Journal of School Choice, 15(2), 225–247.