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School Closure as a Strategy to Remedy Low Performance

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Title: School Closure as a Strategy to Remedy Low Performance
Language: English
Authors: Sunderman, Gail L., Coghlan, Erin, Mintrop, Rick, University of Colorado at Boulder, National Education Policy Center
Source: National Education Policy Center. 2017.
Availability: National Education Policy Center. School of Education 249 UCB University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309. Tel: 303-735-5290; e-mail: nepc@colorado.edu; Web site: http://nepc.colorado.edu
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 19
Publication Date: 2017
Sponsoring Agency: Great Lakes Center for Education Research and Practice
Document Type: Information Analyses
Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education
Descriptors: School Closing, Academic Achievement, School Effectiveness, Transfer Students, Urban Schools, Suburban Schools, Disproportionate Representation, Minority Group Students, Low Income Students, Conflict, Politics of Education, Costs, Student Transportation, Student Experience, Incidence, Public Schools, Program Effectiveness, Community, Neighborhoods, Elementary Secondary Education
Abstract: This brief investigates whether closing schools and transferring students for the purpose of remedying low performance is an option educational decision makers should pursue. The logic of closing schools in response to low student performance goes like this: By closing low-performing schools and sending students to better-performing ones, student achievement will improve. The new, higher-performing schools will give transfer students access to higher-quality peer and teacher networks, which in turn will have a beneficial effect on academic outcomes. The threat of closure may motivate low-performing schools (and their districts) to improve in order to preempt school closure. To investigate this logic, the authors draw on an evidence base that consists of peer-reviewed research studies and well-researched policy reports, but relatively few of these exist for school closures. They ask: (1) How often do school closings occur and for what reasons? (2) What is the impact on students of closing schools for reasons of performance? (3) What is the impact of closing schools on the public school system in which closure has taken place? and (4) What is the impact of school closures on students of various ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds, and on local communities and neighborhoods? They conclude that school closures as a strategy for remedying student achievement in low-performing schools is a high-risk/low-gain strategy that fails to hold promise with respect to either student achievement or non-cognitive well-being. It causes political conflict and incurs hidden costs for both districts and local communities, especially low-income communities of color that are differentially affected by school closings. The authors provide recommendations based on their research findings for policymakers who may be considering closures as an option to improve academic performance. A list of notes and references is included.
Abstractor: ERIC
Entry Date: 2017
Accession Number: ED574706
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: School Closure as a Strategy to Remedy Low Performance
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Sunderman%2C+Gail+L%2E%22">Sunderman, Gail L.</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Coghlan%2C+Erin%22">Coghlan, Erin</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mintrop%2C+Rick%22">Mintrop, Rick</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22University+of+Colorado+at+Boulder%2C+National+Education+Policy+Center%22">University of Colorado at Boulder, National Education Policy Center</searchLink>
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  Data: National Education Policy Center. School of Education 249 UCB University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309. Tel: 303-735-5290; e-mail: nepc@colorado.edu; Web site: http://nepc.colorado.edu
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  Data: 19
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– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: This brief investigates whether closing schools and transferring students for the purpose of remedying low performance is an option educational decision makers should pursue. The logic of closing schools in response to low student performance goes like this: By closing low-performing schools and sending students to better-performing ones, student achievement will improve. The new, higher-performing schools will give transfer students access to higher-quality peer and teacher networks, which in turn will have a beneficial effect on academic outcomes. The threat of closure may motivate low-performing schools (and their districts) to improve in order to preempt school closure. To investigate this logic, the authors draw on an evidence base that consists of peer-reviewed research studies and well-researched policy reports, but relatively few of these exist for school closures. They ask: (1) How often do school closings occur and for what reasons? (2) What is the impact on students of closing schools for reasons of performance? (3) What is the impact of closing schools on the public school system in which closure has taken place? and (4) What is the impact of school closures on students of various ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds, and on local communities and neighborhoods? They conclude that school closures as a strategy for remedying student achievement in low-performing schools is a high-risk/low-gain strategy that fails to hold promise with respect to either student achievement or non-cognitive well-being. It causes political conflict and incurs hidden costs for both districts and local communities, especially low-income communities of color that are differentially affected by school closings. The authors provide recommendations based on their research findings for policymakers who may be considering closures as an option to improve academic performance. A list of notes and references is included.
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  Data: ED574706
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      – Text: English
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      Pagination:
        PageCount: 19
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: School Closing
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Academic Achievement
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: School Effectiveness
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Transfer Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Urban Schools
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Suburban Schools
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Disproportionate Representation
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      – SubjectFull: Minority Group Students
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      – SubjectFull: Low Income Students
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      – SubjectFull: Conflict
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      – SubjectFull: Politics of Education
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      – SubjectFull: Costs
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      – SubjectFull: Student Transportation
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      – SubjectFull: Student Experience
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      – SubjectFull: Incidence
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      – SubjectFull: Public Schools
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      – SubjectFull: Program Effectiveness
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Community
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Neighborhoods
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Elementary Secondary Education
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      – TitleFull: School Closure as a Strategy to Remedy Low Performance
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