Lyson - Social, economic benefits of schools to rural communities

Place-Based Education Evaluation Collaborative

Lyson - Social, economic benefits of schools to rural communities

This page reports on the following study (which can be downloaded from the bottom of this page):

Lyson, T. (2002). What does a school mean to a community? Assessing the social and economic benefits of schools to rural villages in New York. Journal of Research in Rural Education, 17(3), 131–137. Retrieved January 27, 2005, from http://www.acclaim-math.org/docs/jrre_archives/v17,n3,p131-137,Lyson.

Abstract:

Using data from the 1990 U.S. Census from the New York State Department of Education, I identify communty-level characteristics associated with the presence or absence of a school. My inquiry focuses on two sets of rural communites: those with populations of 500 or less and those with populations between 501 and 2,500. I find that the social and economic welfare in all rural communities is higher in places that have schools. Further, in the smallest villages, which have fewer resources and fewer civic places, schools are especially critical to the social and economic well-being of the community. For policymakers, educational administrators, and local citizens it is important to understand that schools are vital to rural communities. The money that might be saved through consolidation could be forfeited in lost taxes, declining property values, and lost businesses.

A concise summary of this study can be found at http://www.ascd.org/portal/site/ascd/menuitem.6a9dfddd720040bf989ad324d3108a0c.

Attachments:

Lyson schools benefit rural communities.pdf

5901k

Attachments are downloaded and saved on your computer. Some files will open automatically, but you may have to open them separately, outside of your browser. PDF files are opened using Adobe Acrobat Reader, available at Adobe's web site.

Last Updated: Tuesday, Feb 01, 2005