With recent research from the Institute for Higher Education Policy showing that college is unaffordable for as many as 70% of working- and middle-class students, concerns about college costs are mounting. The cost of operating an institution of higher education, with very few exceptions, is reflected in the price of attendance that students,…

Student-Based Budgeting (sometimes called Weighted Student Funding, or Fair Student Funding, depending on the district) differs fundamentally from the traditional funding model, which distributes resources to schools in the form of staff and dollars designated for specific purposes. Student-Based Budgeting (SBB) allocates dollars to schools based…

As a state legislator, you're well aware of the fiscal pressures that have caused many states to change their pension systems. But you should also be aware of the impact that pension reform has on public education. This brief guide shows you how and why pension programs affect your state's efforts to attract and retain the best teachers. It…

The changing demands of the 21st century--and the students growing up in it--are generating fundamental challenges to historical assumptions about what education looks like. The challenge today is to provide a deeper level of personalized learning to each and every student so that all can achieve mastery of the Common Core standards and other…

The U.S. labor market is increasingly demanding a more educated workforce. Of the 48 million job openings projected for the next eight years, 63 percent will require some postsecondary education. For many of these job openings, workers will need at least a high school diploma but not necessarily a four-year degree. To successfully increase the…

The overarching goals of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 are to immediately stimulate the economy in the short term and to invest in education and other essential public services that will ensure the long-term economic health of this nation. The United States Education Department (USED) offers guiding principles to be…

With most parents now in the workforce, the demand for high-quality out-of-school time (OST) opportunities for children and youth continues to grow across the country. An estimated 14.3 million children and youth return each day to an empty home unsupervised, and with no opportunities to constructively occupy their time. By building strong,…

Securing appropriate facilities can be a significant challenge for those intending to open a charter school. Although, like all public schools, charter schools receive per-pupil dollars from the state, they generally receive considerably less. Additionally, because traditional public schools rely on their district to provide their school…

This publication describes innovative and powerful mechanisms for financing sustainability projects on campus including energy efficiency upgrades and renewable energy installations. The guide provides step-by-step guidance for establishing revolving loan funds for campus sustainability, based on the experiences of the authors in setting up such a…

Continued economic recession, a growing national debt, and consumer overconsumption mean that a federal tax similar to a sales tax may be passed. Because the "value-added tax" will significantly affect school budgets, according to economist Anthony Carnevale, educators should demand a portion of the tax for education revenue sharing. (CJH)

Provides background and understanding of the origins of the voucher concept; the salient arguments for and against voucher systems; and an analysis of the voucher system from the perspective of the business manager, with special emphasis on the planning functions of the business office. (Author)

This report provides baseline information on the early implementation of Goals 2000 and programs reauthorized under Improving America's Schools Act (IASA), analyzing the ways in which state officials who administer finances have responded to the new legislative mandates. The study intended not only to gather information more efficiently through…

(NOTE: This journal was titled "Higher Education Review" from its inception in Fall 1977 through this issue; beginning Fall 1978 it was renamed "Review of Higher Education.") Marginal utility analysis and zero-base budgeting are described and applied to resource allocations. Related theoretical and practical issues are assessed…

Describes and evaluates further education's new funding methodology, introduced in 1993 by Britain's Further Education Funding Council when it took control of the higher education sector from local authorities. The methodology provides colleges with incentives to expand and lower unit costs and tries to reduce funding inequities among colleges.…

This tool was designed for district officials and related policymakers interested in analyzing a district's spending patterns. It describes a three-step process that focuses on the distribution of resources among schools and types of students. The process is illustrated with an example from the Cincinnati Public Schools. The tool should enable…