Public education in Virginia during fiscal year 2002 is characterized by fiscal crisis, reductions in funds, and no new salary increases for state employees including teachers and university faculty. The current context of recession and budget deficits, together with tax reductions imposed by the previous gubernatorial administration and current…

This "white paper" is intended to provide an overview of many questions and issues related to the affordability of higher education in Virginia and to provide a starting point for discussions and deliberations. The paper includes a timeline for the completion of a study of college costs in Virginia by the State Council of Higher…

This report argues, using Arizona as an illustration, for a market-based school funding paradigm characterized by per-pupil allocations that follow each student to the school of their choice. The report explains what is wrong with the current system, compares the market-based approach to others that have been proposed, and demonstrates how…

This report examines how states and local school districts have been dealing with the issues facing their public school facilities, including: (1) the trends since 1990 in elementary and secondary school construction expenditures and how these expenditures were divided between land, buildings, and equipment; (2) trends since 1990 in the amount of…

This report provides an overview of educational financing in Minnesota. It describes how support for elementary and secondary education in the state comes through a combination of state-collected taxes and locally controlled property taxes. Revenue to the school districts is received in three major categories: state education-finance…

The Los Angeles Public School District is experiencing considerable overcrowding and deterioration of its public schools without adequate funding or planning to build new ones. This document presents the recommendations of a task force that assessed the district's public school crisis in the following areas: school maintenance; new facilities…

This report by the Illinois Community College Board provides results of a telephone survey of nearly 10,150 community college students who earned 30 or more credits or an associate degree in a baccalaureate-transfer program. This one-time telephone survey was designed to: (1) compare satisfaction levels of transfer-baccalaureate students with…

The total cost of ownership (TCO) of computer technology in California's K-12 public schools is assessed via a study of two high schools, one elementary school, and one school district that have implemented successful technology programs. The research covers four fundamental problems in technology ownership that add costs to schools and create…

This fact sheet discusses student financial aid in California postsecondary education. It indicates California student financial aid is increasing significantly: (1) in 2002-03, California students received over $8 billion in financial aid; (2) financial aid funding increased by over 30%, from $5.9 billion in 1998-99 to $8.1 billion in 2002-03;…

The relation that should exist between central and local authorities has long been a favorite theme for persons interested in various theories of government. Many arguments have been produced, some based upon fact and others upon opinion, as to the relative merits of centralized and localized plans of government. In the field of education, as in…

Pre-kindergarten programs enhance the lives of children and have widespread benefits for society. By improving educational performance, expanding career opportunities, and raising wage-earning potential among participating children, high-quality pre-k reduces crime, increases tax revenues, decreases dependency on public assistance programs, and…

Author described and supported the development of career education programs. (RK)

Considered the debilitating influence that inflation is having upon the arts and the condition of public attitudes and support as a result of such economic policy. (RK)

Discusses the recent parochial school aid case Pearl vs Nyquist and compares it with other recent United States Supreme Court rulings on parochiad. (JF)

Discusses recent United States Supreme Court rulings on aid to parochial schools. (JF)