Analysis of figures nationwide indicates that local school districts have reduced their reliance on property taxes while states have increased support for schools. However, states face serious fiscal problems, and the property tax system should be reviewed in light of the need for more local support for schools. (MJL)

Colleges and universities in New Jersey play a critical role in building and sustaining economic prosperity and quality of life in the state and beyond. Through advancements in technology and research, higher education helps to create new jobs, improve the workforce, develop new knowledge, and boost the overall economy. This report summarizes…

This methodology guide is designed to help study teams answer basic questions about how to conduct a regional economic analysis of the child care sector. Specific examples are drawn from a local study, Tompkins County, NY, and two state studies, Kansas and New York, which the Cornell team conducted. Other state and local studies are also…

This issue of "Policy Briefs" briefly examines the major sources of student financial aid and the relationships among grants, persistence, and degree attainment. Aid comes from federal and state governments and from institutions in the forms of grants, loans, and work-study. The positive effects of financial aid on persistence have been reported…

This report summarizes data for the Title I, Part A, Grants to Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) program. It provides participation data for 2000-2001 as well as comparisons to 1999-2000 and previous reporting years. Topics include: districts, schools, and students served, the range of instructional and support services provided, Title I staffing…

Court decisions historically have dealt with educational equity; now they are helping to establish "adequacy" as a standard in education. Legislatures, however, have been slow to enact remedies. One debate over education adequacy, though, is settled: Schools are not financed at an adequate level. This fastback is divided into three…

In recent years, court mandates in education adequacy cases have resulted in substantial increases in state-level support for local building needs in a number of states. The Court of Appeals' decision in "CFE v. State of New York" has made clear that extensive facilities deficiencies in New York City constitute a major constitutional…

This paper analyzes the approaches that states can take to address the needs of families facing the loss of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits due to time limits. Ways in which these approaches can be funded with state or federal welfare funds are discussed. The paper examines how states can use federal TANF or state…

The Virginia legislature has imposed a four-year freeze on tuition for all colleges in the Virginia Community College System (VCCS). This paper suggests that freezing tuition rates can only be a temporary fix in the search to find ways to fund education. The paper examines the effects of stable or lowered tuition rates in community colleges: will…

The Illinois Educational Facilities Authority (IEFA) is a public instrumentality created to provide assistance to not-for-profit, private institutions of higher education. It does so by furnishing the means for such institutions to finance or refinance the construction or acquisition of educational facilities throughout the state. The 1996 annual…

Every 10 years, the national census describes the number of U.S. residents and their characteristics. This decennial census, however, is subject to error. This report summarizes what is known about census undercount and methods used to adjust census data, emphasizing the undercount of children and minorities. The Census Bureau reported that more…

This report explains that the General Fund budget: provides $1,232.6 million for the FY 2003-05 biennium; slashes student financial aid funding by 8.6 percent; includes a reduction of 3 percent for Early Retirement Incentive Plan salary savings; represents a budget that is 16.5 percent below requested current services funding, $15.8 million below…

This report examines institutionally and state funded grants to students attending public higher education institutions, using data from a U.S. Department of Education survey to analyze the characteristics of students receiving these grants and changes in use of the grants. It also examines whether institutional and state grant awards are related…

Vermont's Act 60 is arguably the most equitable school funding system in the nation. However, it is also one of the most controversial. The disputes are primarily focused on the recapture provision that sends excess revenues from property-rich towns to the state's education trust fund. After a 4-year implementation period, the system is now in its…

This document provides summaries of each state's activities to address their the shortage of school buildings by supporting school construction. It reveals that 11 state subsidize, reimburse, or match local funding for construction projects; 10 states have an established formula for determining the amount of stat funding each school district…