The economic efficiency of public school districts was explored by utilization of the concept of economies and diseconomies of scale. An optimum size relative to costs was discovered by analyzing the data with curvilinear least squares regression and also with the differential calculus. (Author)

Empirical studies of the school finance reforms of the 1970s have not indicated that equity has been satisfactorily achieved in all cases. The methods of equity analysis used and the data bases analyzed in those studies have differed enough to prevent ready comparison or the formulation of overall assessments of the effects of school finance…

Two theories direct researchers in their efforts to find the optimum school or district size. The first theory holds that expenditures per student decrease as the size of the school increases. The second theory maintains that the first is true only to a certain enrollment level at which point the greater complexity of the school increases…

Concludes that a state may make very uneven progress toward some general equity goal if that equity goal is operationalized in different ways. A preference for tax disparity, expenditure disparity reduction, or wealth neutrality gains may have to be expressed. (Author/IRT)

This monograph examines several proposed school finance formulas addressing funding and/or taxation disparities produced by the current Illinois system. The analysis is conceptual, as each model is either in the developmental stage or has not been simulated to demonstrate actual impact. Specific algebraic formulations are ignored when discussing…

According to a formula developed to measure the adequacy of state educational finance levels, only three of six selected midwestern states provided adequate levels of expenditure per pupil in 1981-82. The formula for determining adequacy, developed by Jerry Miner and Walter McMahon, consists of totaling adequate levels of expenditure in seven…

This paper uses the year 1972-73 as a base line in evaluating the progress of Illinois toward certain "equity goals." In determining the equity goals, two dimensions are studied--disparity and wealth neutrality. One measure of disparity is the permissible variance in school district expenditures expressed in the coefficient of variation,…

Fiscal data were analyzed for a nine-year period (1963-1971) for all school districts in Illinois. Two hypotheses were tested relative to two different definitions of equalization -- "permissible variance" and "fiscal neutrality." Support was given to the notion of increasing interdistrict equality relative to expenditures and tax effort. Support…

Based on a definition of equity that includes both equality in expenditure per pupil and fiscal neutrality, this paper examines equity in Illinois school finance and makes recommendations for its improvement. Following a brief introduction outlining deterioration of equity since 1977, part 2 describes further reasons for this deterioration. The…

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…

A nine-year evaluation of the effects of Illinois' 1973 school finance reforms on educational equity indicated that the degree of equity increased from 1972 until about 1977 but then decreased through 1981. The researchers measured educational equity in terms of both wealth (or fiscal) neutrality and the variation among school districts in…

A 1973 Illinois school finance reform program initiated a guaranteed tax yield system that can also be considered a district power equalization system. This paper evaluates this reform according to four criteria: permissable variance, fiscal neutrality, reward for effort, and aid to urban areas. Emphasis is given to a discussion of legal and…

This paper explores definitional problems of the equalization concept in school finance, highlights some problems in the measurement of this concept, and discusses its application to current State educational fiscal policy matters. To define equalization, the report poses basic questions covering the concept, surveys school finance literature for…

A new formula proposed for categorically funding local education programs in Illinois can channel more money into programs for excellence than can general purpose grants. The formula, which would provide venture capital to stimulate local initiatives, would depend on district plans for using the money to improve instruction and on distribution of…