Illinois State University's Stevenson Center for Community and
Economic Development and the Center for the Study of Educational Policy have
received a half-million dollar federal grant to help communities understand
and plan for the impact of school closures.
More than 1,500 Illinois schools have closed in the past 35 years. Often the
schools are in rural areas, leading to an economic downturn for the affected
communities. Research indicates that a community's identity, population and
economy are tied to the presence of a school. The issue of how school and
community officials can anticipate and plan for times when their schools are
closed will be studied by the two centers thanks to the U.S. Department of
Agriculture grant.
"Tightening budgets, declining populations and an emphasis on efficiency has
forced school districts to consolidate and close schools," said Frank Beck,
director of the Stevenson Center. "The closures affect students, school
officials, families and communities."
Beck said the study will look at what trends predict rural school closure;
what impact closures have on local economies, educational systems and
population trends; and what circumstances from a school closure or
consolidation lead to local population growth, economic gains and
educational benefits. The study will examine how schools act as economic
engines within their communities, and how decisions are made to close
schools. Beck said the study will help school and community officials better
plan for the future in cases of school closures or consolidations.
The researchers are Beck from the Stevenson Center, Norm Durflinger from the
Center for the Study of Education Policy, Sherrilyn Billger from Economics
and Joseph Pacha from Educational Administration. The study will cover the
time period of the 1970s to the present.
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