Economic and technical production efficiency in elementary education: The case of Minnesota public schools

The purpose of this study is to examine the economic and technical efficiency in select Minnesota school districts where the 8th grade is located outside of the high school in the maximization of student achievement. In addition, patterns of technical efficiency among the selected school districts are reported. Student achievement is measured by the Minnesota Basic Skills Test measuring reading and math achievement. Specific definitions of economic and technical efficiency are defined as utilized in this study.; Examination of the economic and technical efficiency of the selected Minnesota school districts and patterns required a threefold analysis. First, results of an education production function analysis centering on specific school and community variables are reported. Utilizing the data from the education production function, the Farrell measure of technical efficiency was applied to each of the school districts used in this study to measure the extent of technical efficiency within each school district. Finally, utilizing the data created by the Farrell measure a cluster analysis was applied to identify homogeneous groups based on the school and community variables. These results provided the necessary data in determining a pattern of technical efficiency in the selected school districts in the state of Minnesota.; The data led to the conclusion that economic and technical production inefficiencies are present in the selected Minnesota school district data. Specific school and community variables were identified as having a statistically significant impact on both the economic and technical levels of efficiency in the selected Minnesota school districts. In addition, results of the cluster analysis in determining levels of technical efficiency identified three specific clusters (levels) of technical efficiency within the selected Minnesota school districts. Each of these levels is reported with the specific statistically significant variables impacting the level of technical efficiency. This study attempts to describe the nature and extent to which regularities in both economic and technical efficiency can be discerned. The scope of this study is not to prescribe regularities but rather to describe them.