Based on a mail survey of over 100 rural school administrators in 34 states, this handbook outlines common problems and successful strategies in the financial management of rural, small school districts. Major problems are related to revenue and cash flow, increasing expenditures, providing quality education programs, and staffing to handle the…

Twenty-four questions regarding school choice concerns are answered in this document, which advocates school choice in public schools for Massachusetts. The following issues are included: the rationale for school choice; drawbacks to currently available choice options; components of an effective choice plan; the definition and maintenance of…

Issues in the funding of public primary and secondary education in Maryland are examined in this analysis of the final report made by the state legislature's Study Group on Education and Local Government. Following a statement of study group principles, four policy options are examined: (1) ways to modify current funding commitments; (2) several…

Although the Task Force on School Governance report claims that restructuring of school boards is essential to save the nation's failing schools, the real failure is society itself. Societal problems such as the nation's $4 trillion debt, air and water pollution, crime, drug abuse, and special interest lobbies abound, and legislators'…

This book combines history with sociology to examines state-supported schools. A description of the pauper schools of the early 1800s shows how they became the foundation for the common schools that followed. The book focuses on the disciplinary and pedagogic practices that public schools utilized in their attempts to regulate and socialize…

This document summarizes major legislation, enacted by the 1993 New York State Legislature, that affected education and its related professions. Eight sections offer brief descriptions of legislation enacted in the following areas: laws affecting school districts generally; cultural education; state aid; taxation and financial administration;…

Circumstances surrounding the issue of local school district superintendent appointment, as opposed to election, are discussed in this report. Also examined are the efforts in six southeastern states--Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Tennessee--to create systems in which all district superintendents are appointed. Data…

The California Department of Education commissioned a study to help guide ongoing information dissemination practices to the educational community. A pilot study, department of education staff interviews, and field interviews preceded document tracking. Phone interviews were conducted with district administrators, principals, and teachers…

The purpose of Part 151 of the regulations of the New York Commissioner of Education is to carry out the legislative intent to provide financial assistance to school districts. This assistance is provided for the operation of experimental prekindergarten programs for children with educational needs associated with poverty. Section 2 of Part 151…

An overview of Canadian education is provided in this book. Chapter 1 presents basic facts and figures on the educational system's general structure and diversity and the role of the federal government. The second chapter describes provincial/territorial structure, specifically: the role of the departments of education and school board, financing,…

Fiscal equity and taxation equity in educational finance have been key issues in the United States and Canada over the past 2 decades. Part 1 describes the Province of Alberta's search for a solution to fiscal and taxation equity by looking at the education funding system. The growing disparities in educational resources available to school…

The course of school finance reform in Washington since the 1977 "Seattle School District v. State" decision is traced in this document. While the majority of nationwide court decisions have centered on the inequitable distribution of financial resources among school districts within 10 states, the Washington decision focused on the…

A case-cluster study of trends in elementary level educational expenditures in the Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton during 1980-88 is presented in this report. The following issues are addressed: (1) the amount spent by school boards, with a focus on per pupil expenditures in "real" dollars; (2) what these funds are spent on; and…

A total of 201 provincial schools with greater than 10 native students were surveyed as part of the study on school programs for Alberta natives (Metis, and status and non-status Indians). Based on the definition of "program" provided to staff at the schools, 58 schools indicated that they had at least 1 native program. Listed by school,…

Diverse low-cost, innovative, and successful state initiatives for school improvement have been developed over the last five years. Generated by public pressures for accountability, many states' increased capacity for policy analysis, and insights gained during 15 years of administering categorical grant programs, the initiatives include: programs…