School District Consolidation Shows Few Benefits

Last week, the Senate Education Committee held a hearing on proposed school district consolidation. The Allegheny Institute testified, noting that there is little evidence to suggest that consolidation (as seen from the experience in other states) larger districts will have much positive effect on either spending/efficiency or performance.

That is generally our conclusions on the idea of consolidation - large districts are among the least efficient and highest spending, and the evidence on consolidation is mixed (at best) on performance.