Budgetary Efficiency in Ohio Schools: A DEA Approach to Line-Item Budgets - Walter Yund
Hometown: Galway, New York
Class Year: 2008
Major: Economics Minor: Political Science
Research Advisor: Stephen Schmidt
Project Description:
I used a statistical technique called Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to measure school productivity in over 2800 schools in Ohio. Productivity is a ratio of inputs and outputs, and DEA creates a complex ratio of multiple inputs and multiple outputs. I used school budget data and demographic variables as inputs, and school test results as outputs and was able to identify efficient and inefficient schools. Using DEA means that one is able to find, for example, well-performing schools in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods. Education experts then can study those schools, gaining insights that can help failing schools. In analyzing budgetary inputs, I found that the most money could be saved in building operations, pupil support, and instructional expenditures.