Analyzing the Cost-Effectiveness of Instruction Expenditures towards High School Completion among Oahu’s Public School Districts

Larson S. W. M. Ng
(Department of Curriculum Studies, College of Education, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Hawaii 96822, USA)

Abstract: The following study attempted to ascertain the instructional cost-effectiveness of public high school teachers towards high school completion through a financially based econometric analysis. Essentially, public high school instruction expenditures and completer data were collected from 2000 to 2007 and bivariate interaction analyzed through a correlation and linear regression procedure. Based on the collective results, with the exception of the Leeward District that reported a statistically significant positive relationship, a statistically insignificant positive relationship was noted for the Central District; and a statistically insignificant negative relationship noted for both the Honolulu and the Windward District. Consequently, based on the findings of this study, public high school teachers in the Leeward District had a more economically positive influence towards high school completers in contrast to the other school districts on Hawaii’s Island of Oahu from 2000 to 2007.

Key words: instruction expenditures; high school completion; public school teaching effectiveness