During the last 20 years, the United States has experienced more attempts at education reform than at any other time in its history. Efforts to reform financing, the assessment of student performance, accountability and equity, and school choice have all been implemented--with varying levels of success. Michael F. Addonizio and C. Philip Kearney…

Examines status of the four major objectives of 1994 Michigan school-finance reform, two of which have been accomplished. Achieving educational adequacy, however, remains an illusive and challenging goal. (Contains 47 references.) (PKP)

In fashioning public school finance systems, states must balance competing values. Michigan's replacement of a general-aid formula and numerous categorical grant programs with a modified foundation formula constituted a substantial shift away from choice (local determination of spending level) and toward equality (smaller intradistrict spending…

Discusses state efforts to link education reform with educational adequacy. Describes four approaches for investigating this linkage: statistical modeling, empirical observation, professional judgment, and whole-school design. Investigates educational adequacy in Michigan's school-finance reform efforts by examining urban school districts. Finds…

Following adoption of a district power equalizing school aid formula intended to achieve equity in the distribution of general revenue, in per pupil expenditure, and in property taxes, significant progress was made toward attaining wealth neutrality that has subsequently been eroded by a depressed state economy. (MJL)

Discusses the conflicting goals of school finance reform--educational equity, equality, and excellence--and their effects on the district power equalizing (DPE) method of achieving school equity. Describes the experiences with DPE in California, Ohio, Illinois, and Michigan. (RW)

This study examines the organization and operations of local education foundations in Michigan and the fiscal programmatic impact of nonprofit education foundations on Michigan public schools. It also compares the socioeconomic characteristics of foundation and nonfoundation districts and tests the hypothesis that residents of local districts with…

In July 1993, the Michigan legislature did away with the local property tax as a source of operating revenue for the public schools. Analyzes the implications of Michigan's school finance and education reform for fiscal equity, with particular emphasis on constitutional guarantees, equal protection of the laws, and educational quality. (112…