Discusses some of the most useful and most commonly used analytical tools for evaluating state school finance programs. (JG)

Discusses potential problems that may arise with state school finance formulas based on the weighted pupil concept when special education students are weighted heavily for state aid purposes and local school districts are free to classify students as "special." (JG)

Total state appropriations for higher education reached their highest level ever in fiscal 1996-97, demonstrating strength in public support for higher education and a continuing modest recovery from earlier recession. Black institutions have fared less well than others, overall. Only two states saw two-year declines. Fifteen states accounted for…

Analyzes the current system of U.S. public education and why it is not working, focusing on the lack of financial support (federal, state, and local) needed to run a first-rate educational system and lack of societal priority by suggesting that the average American spends dollars on items considered luxuries in other countries (e.g., cars, sports,…

This article provides an overview of state finance polices for gifted education and frameworks for evaluating those policies. The frameworks are then applied for evaluating state school finance policies as of 1998-99 and state aid allocated in 2002. Only Florida provided both sufficient and equitable support for gifted education. (Contains…

During the 1995-96 school year, Arizona charter schools served over 7,117 students and received over $30 million in funding. An estimated 17,000 students will be served next year. The funding formula is similar to the basic state formula for K-12 education, with similar counting methods and revenue availability. However, charter schools have more…

Describes how state budget cuts may pose a greater threat to minority access to higher education than would a Supreme Court ruling against affirmative action in the Michigan cases. (EV)

Describes tax increment financing (TIF), an entrepreneurial strategy with significant fiscal implications for overlapping taxing jurisdictions that provide these functions. Statistical analysis of TIF's impact on the finances of one Illinois county's school districts indicates that municipal use of TIF depletes the property tax revenues of schools…

Reviews literature on cost-of-living adjustments. Analyzes advantages and disadvantages of three alternative strategies for updating the Texas Cost-of-Education Index used in its school finance formula: A comparable-wage index, a cost-of-services index, and a cost-of-outcomes index. (Contains 38 references.) (PKP)

The best kind of performance-based funding system is that which encourages and rewards good practice. Any state incentive program should encourage colleges and universities to develop a comprehensive database, conduct more and better talent development assessments, increase student-faculty contact, and increase student involvement in learning.…

Using a methodology previously applied to municipalities, this paper examines the fiscal condition of Nebraska's school districts. Nebraska contains over 900 districts, ranging from very small to large full-service districts in Lincoln and Omaha. The largest and smallest districts are in best fiscal condition. State aid inequities could be…

Discusses issues related to formula funding and budgeting in higher education, in general, and in academic libraries, specifically. The strengths and weaknesses of state funding formulas and academic library budgeting formulas are evaluated, based on a survey of libraries in eight states. The role of coordinating agencies and structures is also…

At the aggregate level it appears that the state share of public school financing has shifted from parity to dominance. However, there is substantial diversity among states. Through a synthesis of the literature on fiscal federalism, political culture, state politics, and public policy, explanations are offered for this interstate divergence.…

The educational reform movement has resulted in staff development requirements which have created implementation problems for rural schools. The educational cooperative provides a solution to these implementation problems. (JD)

Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York face giant deficits in their state budgets. The financial impact of the 1986 federal tax reform law was underestimated by colleges and income estimates were overly optimistic for 1988 and 1989. Unpopular, new taxes are seen as the way to solve the budget crunch. (MLW)