Jim Williams
Jim Williams has had a distinguished career in governmental research, working to improve the practice of data-based decision-making in public education as well as in state and local government generally. He held increasingly responsible positions within research agencies in Texas and Michigan before coming to Alabama in 1988 as the founding director of the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama (PARCA), a position he held until retiring in September 2015.
Over the span of his 27 years at the helm of PARCA, Williams developed a number of widely recognized methods for analyzing the finances and performance of Alabama’s public schools, the adequacy and equity of the state’s tax system, and the transparency and efficiency of budgetary practices in the public sector. PARCA reports on these subjects have been published on its web site and delivered in presentations to audiences around the state. On a consulting basis, PARCA has provided comparisons of school finances and student assessment results for a number of communities and local school systems interested in using the data to assist in improvement efforts.
Williams also has served as a consultant on state policies related to public education and public finance. He has provided staff support to several statewide commissions on taxes, education reform, teaching quality, and governmental improvement. His “Smart Budgeting” methodology was adopted by the State of Alabama, and he participated in its implementation. PARCA’s recent evaluations of progress toward achieving the goals of Plan 2020 are leading to legislative adoption of performance-enhancing improvements for the public schools.
Over the span of his 27 years at the helm of PARCA, Williams developed a number of widely recognized methods for analyzing the finances and performance of Alabama’s public schools, the adequacy and equity of the state’s tax system, and the transparency and efficiency of budgetary practices in the public sector. PARCA reports on these subjects have been published on its web site and delivered in presentations to audiences around the state. On a consulting basis, PARCA has provided comparisons of school finances and student assessment results for a number of communities and local school systems interested in using the data to assist in improvement efforts.
Williams also has served as a consultant on state policies related to public education and public finance. He has provided staff support to several statewide commissions on taxes, education reform, teaching quality, and governmental improvement. His “Smart Budgeting” methodology was adopted by the State of Alabama, and he participated in its implementation. PARCA’s recent evaluations of progress toward achieving the goals of Plan 2020 are leading to legislative adoption of performance-enhancing improvements for the public schools.