This November, California voters must decide two policy questions of great concern to public-sector unions. One is a tax hike to stave off further cuts to state spending (there are two versions on the ballot with a chance of passing). The other is a "paycheck protection" measure that would ban the practice of unions' deducting money from…

The fiscal benefits that community colleges bring to the local, state, and national economies have long been the province of anecdote, conjecture, and debate, but important new work has taken much of the mystery and guesswork out of this question. We now know that the rate of return delivered on tax dollars spent to support community colleges is…

This study investigates what factors are associated with the likelihood of passing school facility construction bonds by local district election. It uses statewide data from Michigan, 1998-2006, to examine the outcome of 789 bond elections in terms of the following ten variables: amount of the bond request; district enrollment; district locale;…

This policy brief reviews the recent experience of the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) with the development and approval of Proposition A. Proposition A (also known as the Quality Teacher and Education Act, or QTEA) included a parcel tax mainly dedicated to increasing teachers' salaries, along with a variety of measures introducing…

In this White Paper, the Business Roundtable recommends access to AMERICA 21, a 21st-century approach to lifelong learning for workers, as well as assistance for job dislocation. AMERICA 21 would channel funding from the myriad of existing initiatives into a modernized, streamlined system that leverages and builds on today's best private and…

The Grapevine project, which began in 1960 by M. M. Chambers, entails an annual survey of state higher education and government officials. The intent is to record annual state tax appropriations for the operating expenses of higher education, noting percent changes from year to year. The Grapevine data are indicators of state tax effort in support…

Throughout the history of publicly-funded voucher programs--enacted and proposed--the impact on taxpayers has been a recurring issue. As the nation's longest-running program, the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program (MPCP) provides an important case study. The fiscal impact of Milwaukee's program has evolved in very significant ways over its 18-year…

The 1990 Kentucky Education Reform Act (KERA) was passed in an atmosphere of excitement, optimism, and national attention. Recent survey results suggest that most Kentucky residents want KERA to succeed and are willing to provide the necessary resources. However, skepticism may be increasing. Support differs according to several demographic…

With the federal education budget for fiscal 1989 barely exceeding inflation costs, pressure is mounting for greater federal participation in educational finance--even from business and industry. Numerous schemes, such as a payroll tax and a college scholarship fund for women and minorities, are suggested and major roadblocks discussed. (MLH)

Reviews the struggle between the public policy goals of local control (liberty) and equal opportunity (equality) as the guiding rationale for conceptions of equity. Discusses ameliorative resource allocation policies and the adequacy construct, along with certain legal implications. Urges that the wealth neutrality principle be broadened. Includes…

Despite unfavorable publicity concerning public education's performance, 42 percent of Gallup Poll respondents give the schools in their community an A or B, and 33 percent assign them a C. Only 5 percent feel that schools are failing. Parents of public school students rate the schools even higher. Half of those surveyed would pay higher taxes to…

In November 1990, a group of 47 school districts filed suit against the state of Illinois, charging that inequity in school financing violates the right to equal protection under the state constitution. This report, prepared by a coalition of 17 Chicago-based nonprofit organizations, provides Illinois citizens with an analysis of current school…

Since Great Britain instituted a policy in 1979 of charging foreign students the "full cost" of their education, there has been little effort to determine what the full cost or the policy's impact is. Calculations reveal net gain to British taxpayer from having foreign students in non-advanced further education and slight loss from…

Four studies indicate that many school buildings are either inadequate to house current student populations and instructional modes or require major repair or renovation. The studies document old facilities and billions of dollars of necessary repairs that have not been made due to deferred maintenance, insufficient capital improvement funding,…

An amendment to the Canada Assistance Plan, a national-provincial cost-sharing arrangement, is suggested. The adjustment would ensure that citizens in all provinces have access to comparable services and bear comparable tax burdens by allowing greater fiscal transfers to provinces with greater need and/or smaller tax bases. (Author/MSE)