To complete the second stage of the Classrooms First Commission's (CFC) work and develop draft recommendations, commission members have broken into smaller work groups focused on shared services, within-district efficiency, and realignment. These work groups will meet from January to March 2012 to craft draft recommendations that will achieve the two overarching goals of the commission:
- Improve educational opportunities for public school students
- Improve efficient use of educational resources
These goals were developed by Lt. Governor Simon and have guided the commission's work from the beginning.
The work groups will review relevant research while drawing upon the public input submitted to the commission during public hearings and through an online survey in order to develop draft recommendations. Each group will be made up of commission members, invitees from stakeholder organizations, and education experts.
Information on each work group is included below; including their outcome as required by the statute establishing the commission, how each group can meet one or both of the commission's two overarching goals, and the resources each group will be using. Periodic work group progress reports will be posted on this page.
Educational Shared Services Work Group
Statutorily Required Outcomes:
- Focus on how to reduce money spent on duplication of efforts
- Improve the education of students by having fewer obstacles between qualified teachers and their students
CFC Goal 1: Improve educational opportunities for public school students
- Improve educational programs, eliminate those that are ineffective or outdated, and encourage innovation: also consider extra-curricular and enrichment programs
- Assure opportunities for teacher learning and support
- Consider equity of opportunities; recommend ways for districts to ensure adequate service levels regardless of district/school size or location
- Identify and share best practices among districts for high-quality educational delivery (including non-traditional methods such as distance learning and partnerships)
You can also review the research, reports, and resources the Educational Shared Services work group will use in drafting its recommendations.
Progress Report
Operational Shared Services Work Group
Statutorily Required Outcomes:
- Focus on how to reduce money spent on duplication of efforts
- Improve the education of students by having fewer obstacles between qualified teachers and their students
CFC Goal 2: Improve efficient use of educational resources
- Identify ways to reduce costs
- Improve service delivery efficiencies, including financial, operational, and administrative services
- Create "stop doing" lists
- Recommend district criteria where cooperative financial, operational, and administrative services should be considered, and identify best practices in these areas
- Include all districts in efficiency recommendations
You can also review the research, reports, and resources the Operational Shared Services work group will use in drafting its recommendations.
Progress Report
Within-District Efficiency Work Group
Statutorily Required Outcomes:
- Focus on how to reduce money spent on duplication of efforts
CFC Goal 1: Improve educational opportunities for public school students
- Improve educational programs, eliminate those that are ineffective or outdated, and encourage innovation; also consider extra-curricular and enrichment programs
- Identify and share best practices among districts for high-quality educational delivery (including non-traditional methods such as distance learning and partnerships)
CFC Goal 2: Improve efficient use of educational resources
- Identify ways to reduce costs
- Create "stop doing" lists
- Consider within-district school consolidation
You can also review the research, reports, and resources the Within-District Efficiency work group will use in drafting its recommendations.
Progress Report
Realignment Work Group
Statutorily Required Outcomes:
- Make recommendations on the number of school districts in the state, the optimal amount of enrollment for a school, and where realignment would be beneficial
- Provide recommendations as to the net cost savings of realignment to the state
- Provide input to school districts on reorganization
CFC Goal 1: Improve educational opportunities for public school students
- Assure that "efficiencies" benefit students
- Consider equity of opportunities; recommend ways for districts to ensure adequate service levels regardless of district/school size or location
CFC Goal 2: Improve efficient use of educational resources
- Define parameters for realignment/reorganization and for high school size
- Study streamlining opportunities, dual districts, and previous realignments
- Examine reorganization incentives
- Consider within-district school consolidation
You can also review the research, reports, and resources the Realignment work group will use in drafting its recommendations.
Progress Report