The Role of Regionalization in Public Education

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The Role of Regionalization in Public Education

• By Ryan Turri

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Research Question

• What role does regionalization have in the
  delivery of educational services to students in
  the Greater Hartford Region?
• Who benefits from these regionalization efforts?
• What are the costs and benefits associated with
  these efforts?
• Do the benefits outweigh the costs?

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Significance

• To understand the way Regional Education Service
  Centers (RESCs) effect school systems.
• Ways in which school systems can save money and
  time by combining efforts.

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Thesis

• RESCs are beneficial in providing education
  services to students in Connecticut
• Costs of expensive services decrease
• Systemic services become more accessible to
  students

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Connecticut- Six RESC Districts
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CREC

• Capital Region Education Council
• Started in 1966 under Connecticut Statute
  10-66a-n
• Used as a Public Education Authority
• Services the Greater Hartford Region
• 105 million dollar organization

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CREC Statistics

• .20 cent per pupil cost
• 150 different services
• 13 Towns
• 155,000 students
• Funding
• 63 Local
• 35 State/Federal
• 2 Private

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Service Examples

• Employee Assistance Programs
• Lower consulting costs
• Combined purchasing
• Cost savings by buying/ contracting district wide
• Grants
• Secure grants and hold workshops on how to write
  them
• Construction project services

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Alternative Choices

• Magnet Schools
• 8 alternative schooling choices
• Open lottery system
• Student Service Options
• Provides better support to special need students
• Includes Health and Development Services

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Teacher Services

• Teacher Training Programs
• Online courses
• Lower costs of materials
• Curriculum training
• Year round professional development activities

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Hidden Costs of RESCs

• Competition
• CREC tries to make sure MLC doesnt shine too
  much
• Need to find more ways to take credit with
  Bloomfield and surrounding districts Anne
  Mckernan, Principal MLC
• Services can suffer
• Each school has specific needs

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Conclusions

• The benefits outweigh the costs
• Services are easy to come by, they are very
  available and provide quick answers and good
  data. Anne Mckernan, Principal MLC
• Regionalization efforts are advantageous to
  students
• School districts profit from combined efforts