One method is streamlining administration and support-service costs. For example, when site-based councils assume responsibility for budgeting, personnel, and curriculum decisions at the school site, fewer district administrators are necessary. Examples include cutting travel expenses, buying the lowest cost supplies, soliciting bids for services, reducing excessive staff positions and salaries, and eliminating overgenerous benefits. Such reductions do not directly affect the education of children. The auditor's office compared district figures and found no correlation between higher costs and student achievement.
State policies can sometimes impede improvements at the district and school levels.
Worse, they sometimes reduce or remove funds when student outcomes improve. State policies must focus on school outcomes through goal-setting instead of management. The traditional policies forced on schools, such as those specifying staffing, professional development, curriculum, time, resource use, and budgeting practices, cause schools to ignore student outcomes. Also, excessive curriculum mandates may make it impossible for schools to teach students everything that is mandated. District policies that are too strict can prevent teachers, parents, and principals from having a voice in curricula, spending, and personnel selection.