An Analysis of Purchasing and Cooperative Agreements Among School Corporations, Charter Schools, and Education Service Centers

Abstract

Through various state policy initiatives, school corporation expenditures on administration, direct non-instructional services, and classroom instruction have received renewed attention. At a time when the reduction of school operating expenses has become a priority, research has documented that consolidated purchasing and shared services between school corporations can be effective in reducing these costs. However, the research is not compelling that school corporation consolidation would be uniformly beneficial for Indiana (see Plucker et.al., 2007). Under IC 21-10-3, the Indiana State Board of Education is required to submit a report by November 1st of each year to the state superintendent, governor, and Indiana General Assembly concerning: 1. Consolidated purchasing agreements by school corporations, charter schools, or by Education Service Centers (ESCs) on behalf of member school corporations and charter schools; 2. Shared service arrangements by school corporations, charter schools, or by Education Service Centers on behalf of member school corporations and charter schools; 3. Efforts to explore cooperative purchasing, shared services, or consolidations by school corporations, charter schools, or by Education Service Centers on behalf of member school corporations and charter schools. Since 2006 an annual survey has been conducted by the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) to collect and report this information. The 2007 survey was completed by 203 school corporations and charter schools and Indiana’s nine Education Service Centers (whose membership includes 283 school corporations, 38 nonpublic schools, and one state institution). Responses reflect activities for the 2006-07 school year. This report summarizes and analyzes the results of the 2007 IDOE survey and makes comparisons to the 2006 survey results.