At first blush, the Supreme Court's recent decision in "Horne v. Flores" (2009) appears to be about the proper standard for determining when to modify a previous judgment, a topic that would interest only civil procedure geeks. Yet, on closer examination, "Horne" is about giving local and state officials discretion to solve education problems and,…

In Missouri v. Jenkins (1995), the U.S. Supreme Court examined Kansas City's expensive and ambitious desegregation remedy, which exceeded the district court's discretionary authority. The court demanded an intradistrict remedy no longer reliant on making programs and facilities so outstanding that suburban students would voluntarily transfer to…

Michigan has long advocated local control of education, a philosophy that particularly applies to purchasing school buses. To counter adverse legal actions stemming from noncompetitive bidding practices, the Michigan School Business Officials and the Michigan Association for Pupil Transportation collaborated to develop a comprehensive,…

Reviews state school-funding litigation since the California Supreme Court's 1971 decision in "Serrano v. Priest." Assesses the impact and evolution of state funding litigation; discusses the subsequent erosion of local control; describes potential future funding litigation involving rural schools, local sales taxes, and urban schools.…

Title I, concerned with providing equal learning opportunities for disadvantaged students, is the 1965 Elementary and Secondary Education Act's centerpiece and has been institutionalized in U.S. schools. Recent reauthorizations have allowed local districts and schools to determine which type of program will best serve students' needs. (18…

A study based on policy data from 50 state education departments revealed that all states (except Hawaii) have policies and laws providing moderate or high potential for exercising local control over financing school construction. Liberty has remained a dominant value for school-finance policy despite legal interventions favoring equity. (Contains…

A survey of state requirements for licensing/certifying school business officials reveals that most states leave the educational and experiential requirements to the discretion of the local boards of education. Two tables display survey findings. Contacted offices and designated resource persons are listed. (MLF)

School business officials' technical knowledge and expertise can make the process of school-based management more successful. The art of site-based management is relationship building through effective interpersonal and communication skills. (MLF)