Two years ago a fiscal equity analysis assessed the current Virginia equalization formula over its history (fiscal year 1975-fiscal year 2003). The findings indicated by accepted equity statistics were that the level of equity improved from fiscal year 1975 through fiscal year 1994 and leveled off from fiscal year 1994 through fiscal year 2003.…

Throughout the history of publicly-funded voucher programs--enacted and proposed--the impact on taxpayers has been a recurring issue. As the nation's longest-running program, the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program (MPCP) provides an important case study. The fiscal impact of Milwaukee's program has evolved in very significant ways over its 18-year…

This report presents an analysis of the fiscal ability and effort of counties in Tennessee to support public education with alternative formulas for measuring relative ability to pay. Chapter 1 is a review of related literature that provides a background for tracing the development of the rationales used in fiscal capacity measures. It has two…

The effort-ability index is a means of drawing together the two concepts of effort (reflected by revenue collections and per pupil expenditures) and ability (both to provide for nonschool expenditure functions and for school purposes) to provide a measure of a local government's need for state assistance. In constructing an effort-ability index…

This report describes findings of a study conducted by the Auburn Enlarged City School District that examined the ability of New York school districts to pay for their students' educational needs. The methodology used involved an economic comparison of the largest 80 New York school districts selected on the basis of enrollment and an analysis of…

The equity of public school funding in Illinois is investigated in this report. A longitudinal, cartographic methodology examines the county as the unit of analysis for the school years 1972-73 through 1990-91. Findings indicate that Illinois school districts are currently more unequal than when the state equalization aid formula state was adopted…

Although schooling in Australia has been traditionally the responsibility of the states, increased specific grant funding, based on fiscal performance equalization, has led to a more active role for the Australian federal government in influencing education outcomes. A possible consequence is a loss in diversity of the educational system.(TE)

This report summarizes the finances of major New York school districts during the school year 1990-91, as well as public school expenditures and state aid since 1972-73. A summary of school district expenditures compares various percentiles of operating expenditures per student and describes the magnitude of the disparity in approved operating…

Inequality in school facilities is emerging as a pivotal factor in court decisions that have ruled state school-funding systems unconstitutional. This report examines cases in three states--Arizona, Ohio, and Texas--where courts considered school facilities paramount in ruling the funding system unconstitutional. Arizona's school funding system…

Updated information is provided in this addendum to an original report that assessed the equity of the Kansas School District Equalization Act (SDEA) from 1973 to 1988. This consultants' analysis on behalf of Turner School District in "Mock v. State of Kansas" consists of five parts. Following an introduction, section 2 reviews the…

In light of the Levittown v. Nyquist decision, which found New York State's educational funding method unconstitutional, this report presents the recommendations for increasing New York's educational equity made by a statewide task force. For each of 27 proposals that garnered support from any task force member, the report discusses research…

An analysis of the effect of the Kansas School District Equalization Act (SDEA) of 1973 on public school financing is provided in this consultants' report on behalf of six plaintiff school districts in "Newton United School District 373 et al., v. the State of Kansas." Following an introduction, the second section sets forth the initial…

This final report of the Nebraska School Financing Review Commission includes the following items: (1) an examination of the role of income as a revenue source and indicator of wealth; (2) investigation of ways to reduce reliance on property tax for school support; and (3) consideration of alternate state aid distribution formulas. Also included…

The primary sources of capital funds in Minnesota are the local capital expenditure levy and school district bond sales. The state provides assistance to low-wealth districts by providing a capital expenditure equalization aid program and two types of loans under the Maximum Effort School Aid Law. It has been argued that the concepts of equal…

After decades of media attention, study, and lawsuits, the solution to inequities in school funding remains elusive. This paper examines several strategies that states have used to try to close the funding disparities in per-pupil spending. It explains the two definitions of equity in the school-finance arena and identifies some important trends…