Survey 2007: More Growth in School Support Service Privatization

Privatization is a time-tested management tool used by governments around the world. It can take many forms, but competitive contracting is the most prevalent in the United States whether in municipalities or within the realm of public education. In some regards, Michigan is a national leader in competitive contracting in education; in other areas it is a laggard.

Contents

• Executive Summary
• Introduction
• Background and Purpose
• Nationwide Privatization Incidence
  • Food
  • Custodial
  • Transportation
• Methodology
• 2007 Survey Results
  • District Contracting by Pupil Population
  • Food Service Privatization
  • Custodial Privatization
  • Transportation Privatization
  • Districts That Brought Services Back In-House
  • Savings
  • Satisfaction
• Other Competitive Contracting in School Districts
• Competitive Contracting Over Time
• Conclusion
• Appendix A: Survey Findings by County
• Appendix B: Map of Survey Findings by School District
• Endnotes
• About the Authors