Examines the literature on capitalization (the relationship among property values, public services, and local taxation) and develops two lines of inference. Asserts that capitalization proves that the determination of educational expenditures is not isolated from other markets, but closely related to a large number of other economic variables.…

Examines models concerning the effects of district power equalization on measures of equality in the distribution of per pupil expenditures. Concludes that unresolved technical difficulties limit choice to two alternative models. (Author/IRT)

A study of primary school finance by the Centre for Educational Research and Innovation (CERI) suggests many countries have concerns regarding financial equalization of educational opportunity. This study tests the CERI project's conclusions to determine whether some of the more equalizing finance systems might serve as models for other countries.…

Analyzing the public school finance questions that have been brought before the public by Serrano vs Priest in California, the study demonstrates that California's traditional school financing system has not been equitable or efficient in meeting the needs of Chicano students. (NQ)

Most of New Jersey's charter schools are located in the state's poorer, urban school districts, or "Abbott" districts, and exclusively serve students from those communities. A number of other schools are located outside of the Abbott districts but enroll students from these districts. Specifically, of the 50 charter schools operating in…

With regard to school finance legislation, 1994 was an active year with 13 cases decided and over 100 pieces of legislation passed. This paper provides a summary and analysis of state school-finance litigation and legislation for that calendar year. The first part summarizes and analyzes state school-finance court decisions; included is a table…

School finance reform litigation has been an important issue among educators and legislators over the last decade. A history of the reform movement is given in two phases from 1965 to 1979. A summary and analysis of reform legislation concludes the report. (JN)

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 goal of the doctoral dissertation summarized here was to find an equitable school finance plan that applied the same tax rate in all districts and resulted in the smallest variance in the expenditure per weighted pupil unit (WPU) between districts in Arizona for the 1971-72 school year. Six finance plans were developed for analysis and were…

Presenting a brief overview of federal aid to education, this paper approaches the equity issue by first detailing the unique characteristics of rural school districts and then examining rural program needs in terms of the appropriateness, sufficiency, and manageability of federal aid for rural schools. Emphasizing the diverse nature of rural…

Most states fund their community colleges on a flat grant per pupil basis, though some allocate on an overall appropriation. Variations in district wealth are generally equalized by either full state support or state equalization of local tax-paying ability. Four models of state support are currently in operation: (1) negotiation of state support…

The Tennessee School Finance Equity Study was begun in 1978 to review the equity and adequacy of Tennessee's Public School Finance Program. Changes in the structure of the Tennessee Foundation Program (TFP) did achieve greater equity in the amount of funds local districts obtained from the foundation program even though the residence of the…

Financial resources do affect educational quality. When the advantaged have the better-financed school, America will continue to provide unequal education to those who most need what school has to offer. Legislative responses to early litigation and the recent litigation in Montana, Texas, and New Jersey are discussed. (MLW)

Reviewing literature on educational finance and law, this paper analyzes the rationale for the recent school finance reform movement and recounts the movement's progress from 1965 to 1979. An overview of the problem discusses state equalization programs' ability to provide financial equity and the relationship of financial equity to equal…

Education researchers have moved beyond asking whether money matters to school performance. They are now investigating how money matters to student learning and achievement. There are three questions that policymakers and citizens must address: How much money are they willing to spend on the education of the young? How should it be fairly spent?…