The purpose of this paper is to examine the intersection of social class inequality and education policy through the lens of an analysis of the experiences and effects of state, local, and federal policy meant to engage communities around the use of federal funds to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on students. The author intends to…

In this paper, we put forth a framework called Critical School Finance, articulating the framework itself and then applying it to school facilities finance. First, we go back to first principles and discuss what 'critical' denotes, revisiting critical theorist Max Horkheimer's seminal essay 'Traditional vs. Critical Theory.' Second, we offer five…

While there is a wealth of research on school finance equity and adequacy, and school finance theory clearly documents differences between the two concepts, no study has examined whether the reforms engendered by each approach actually differ in terms of resource distribution. This study examines the issues using district level data on expenditure…

The effect of the School District Equalization Act (SDEA) on school financing in Kansas is analyzed in this report. Included is a discussion of the context of the present legal action, a description of the present statutory scheme and evaluation framework, a longitudinal statistical assessment of the SDEA in relation to the entire state and…

Through an examination of the economic and ethical implications of additional redistribution, the author shows that the massive redistribution currently taking place each year makes it very costly to attempt to move still further toward equality. (Author/AM)

Presents a general methodology that may be used by states in the design of municipal overburden provisions for their educational aid programs. (RLV)

The report describes the approach used by each of the 50 states to fund educational and related services for children served as handicapped by the public schools. An initial chapter discusses state school finance systems, covering equalization and non-equalization aid formulas used for general aid, and special education funding formulas used for…

Among the positions advocated here is that relevant educators demand the funding of a black dimension of all basic research that threatens to have a major impact on the black community, and in particular on school finance research. (Author/AM)

This article examines the divergent alternatives to achieving school finance reform. The Social Equity and Political Economy approaches are emphasized to achieve non wealth discrimination between school districts. (DE)

This article examines how legal arguments advocating school finance reform do not provide an adequate basis for dealing with practical problems of implementing such policies. Guidelines for reform of fiscal policy are suggested. (DE)

This paper (1) defines the concept of equalization as it has been used in school finance, (2) examines some selected problems in the measurement of the concept of equalization, and (3) applies the concept of equalization to current State educational fiscal policy matters. The definitional problems are investigated by posing what are believed to be…

The principle of fiscal neutrality is that school spending may not depend on the wealth of localities: if local units are to select spending levels, the state must eliminate the influence of the varying wealth of these units by matching grants. (Author/JM)

Describes the range of reforms that might result from the equal protection suits and assesses their educational consequences, good and bad, as well as assessing equal protection remedies in terms of their potential for education reform. (Author/JM)

Based on estimates of differences in costs for school personnel and transportation in Missouri school districts, a cost-of-education index is computed, patterns of cost variation examined, and the impact of state aid allocations determined. Some conclusions are drawn as to implementing a cost index as part of school finance policy. (MF)

The State of Illinois appropriates funds according to a resource equalizer formula which allows a district having a large number and a high percentage of economically disadvantaged school children to gain a sizable bonus in State aid, contingent upon a plan to improve instruction. The Chicago Public Schools have received this bonus without…