Money Might Matter Somewhere: A Response to Hedges, Laine, and Greenwald

Over the past quarter century, there has been an attempt to use systematic statistical analysis to inform educational policy. This analysis has not been greeted enthusiastically by educators, particularly because it has clearly indicated that their current operations are inefficient and broadly ineffective (Hanushek, 1989). The recent analysis of Larry Hedges, Richard Laine, and Rob Greenwald (1994) addresses the overall conclusions in my article about the lack of relationship between resources and performance. In this response, I endeavor to make clear that, when the dust settles, the previous conclusions and perspective on educational policy remain intact and are, perhaps, even strengthened by their reanalysis.