A description of the background and legal issues involved in the case of Northshore School District V. Kinnear in which the complaint alleged that Washington's system of educational finance provided unequal educational opportunities to the school children in the state and that it also subjected taxpayers to discriminatory treatment. As of this…

An informal introduction to a collection of articles on future directions for public school finance reform which assesses the impact of the Serrano and Rodriquez decision and explores possible future trends in this area. (EH)

A report on the litigation strategies and cost-quality issues involved in the Serrano V Priest case in which the California Supreme Court ruled that spending for a child's publicly financed education should not be a function of wealth. Also discussed are the relevance of the Supreme Court's Rodriquez decision as well as the response of the…

The appropriateness of using the judicial process as a forum for resolving the cost-quality debate in educational finance is discussed in an attempt to discover some intermediate ground, which would permit the judicial machinery to operate but avoids settling the scientific dispute. Existing judicial standards of educational opportunity are…

An examination is made of the possible impact of Rodriquez on other educational reform litigation presently pending in the courts or contemplated by reform advocates. An analysis of the relevant sections of the Rodriquez decision is presented, and alternative concepts which may limit the decision's consequences are suggested. Some of these…

In Robinson V. Cahill, the New Jersey Supreme Court unanimously affirmed a trial court invalidation of the state's school finance statute on the basis of the "thorough and efficient" education clause of the state constitution. This article reviews this case in detail, its genesis, its legal theories, its constitutional guidelines, and…

A chronicle of efforts at educational finance reform in Michigan in which the state judiciary initially ruled that the deductible-millage system was unconstitutional in Milliken V Green later dismissed the case, but in the process stimulated the legislature to move toward reform. (EH)

An historical account is given of movements toward educational finance reform in Texas, culminating in the Rodriquez v. San Antonio Independent School District case and its aftermath. The role of political pressures applied by various interest groups is traced and the prospects for future reform assessed. (EH)

An overview of recent legislation in the field of educational finance reform which describes a number of similarities among the bills enacted after the Serrano decision but before the first major reversals of some of the earlier decisions. Weaknesses common to these efforts are detailed and indications of future trends are suggested. An Appendix…

A brief history of the development of the limited-purpose Federal education programs is used as background to make a case for the diminishing likelihood of a major Federal initiative beyond the presently enacted categorical grant programs. It is noted that present limited Federal programs, centering on education for the disadvantaged have been…

Various policy issues surrounding educational voucher plans are explored: Who would provide schools under such plans? What rules would govern enrollment (including concerns about one-race schools)? What variety of schooling should be permitted and how would they be evaluated? Voucher plans are compared with other related educational reforms in…

Principles for public school finance are outlined with respect to an equitable allocation of educational resources by the state. The argument is advanced that equal dollars per pupil is a practical, reasonable, acceptable and attainable initial basis for school financing. Objections to the equal dollars scheme are considered, leading to an…