Does Management Matter In Schools?
Type:
SIEPR Discussion Paper 13-032
Author(s):
Published:
05/1/14
Abstract:
We collect data on operations, targets and human resources management practices in over
1,800 schools educating 15-year-olds in 8 countries. Overall, we show that higher
management quality is strongly associated with better educational outcomes. The UK,
Sweden, Canada and the US obtain the highest management scores closely followed by
Germany, then Italy, Brazil and with India on the lowest scores. We also show that
autonomous government schools (i.e. government funded but with substantial independence
like UK academies and US charters) have significantly higher management scores than
regular government schools and private schools. Almost half of the difference between the
management scores of autonomous government schools and regular government schools is
accounted for by differences in better governance (accountability) and leadership of the
principal/head.
Full Text: