Reviews recent state and federal court decisions dealing with issues relevant to educational finance. Within the broad area of elementary-secondary education, specific cases involve school tax assessments, allocation of state school aid, school tax levy elections, and public support of a private segregated school. (JG)

The author recently took a look at how Denmark encourages experimental schools and suggests that, in Britain, there should be a new form of direct grant, which allows and encourages local groups to set up their own schools. (Editor/RK)

The need for the continuous assessment of aid programs is discussed, and the use of the Resource-Consumer Assessment Model is described. The study aimed to gather information on the impact of the Tuition Assistance Grants on the college decision making of grant recipients. (LBH)

The relationships between state government funding methods and instructional innovation in public higher education are explored in this study. It is argued that stimulating instructional innovation is socially and educationally productive and that fiscal and budgetary strategies available to state-level decision-makers may be used to stimulate…

The 56 administrators whose programs or agencies were members of the National Association of State Scholarship and Grant Programs were surveyed, with a 66 percent response rate. Their use of research in decision-making was assessed and was most often used to support budgetary requests to the legislatures. (LBH)

Applies economic theory to questions concerning the public financing of two-year colleges. Highlights two analytical constructs used in recommending educational policy: the principle of externalities and the theory of human capital. Considers the effect of academic/vocational program mix on educational financing and issues of equity and access.…

Despite their eroding fiscal positions, state governments are responsible for establishing budget policy for both public elementary/secondary and higher education. As a Utah case study shows, the current political structure creates pressures for both competition and cooperation in optimizing scarce resources. This study advocates limited…

The author looks at five specific forces or trends that will be affecting vocational education in the eighties and nineties: adults, women, and minorities; implications for excellence; equity for women, minorities, and the disadvantaged; the shrinking tax dollar; and high technology. (CT)

The Tennessee Higher Education Commission's performance-funding policy rewards public institutions for undertaking comprehensive assessment programs. New policy guidelines that emphasize quantitative indicators such as test scores and alumni ratings are discussed. (Author/MLW)

Forty-nine state superintendents of public instruction responded to the sixth biannual assessment of U.S. gifted/talented education programs. The questionnaire addressed the following topics: certification requirements for teachers, state funding, impact of tax limitation measures, state guidelines for gifted/talented programs, student selection…

Reports a study of 25 California state subsidized infant-toddler programs investigating the relationship of personnel costs and staffing practices to child care quality. Study results, when combined with findings of an earlier study by Olenick, provide evidence of a link between personnel budgets and enhanced program quality. (NH)

Data are tabulated on trends in generally available and specially directed federal aid, state grants, and institutionally awarded aid and in the number of recipients and dollar awards for each major aid category. (MSE)

Summarizes public school finance in New York State, focusing on recent high levels of state aid. Discusses Speaker of Assembly's role as education advocate. This powerful Democrat formed a 1983 task force that studied financing, set priorities, issued a report, and produced a five-year plan to initiate further legislative action. Contains 2…

This longitudinal study examines the determinants of higher education and lower education revenues per capita and the ratio of the two over a 30-year period. Demographic variables and personal income are found to be unimportant. The most important variables are found to be historical and political variables. (Author/JAZ)

Four leaders in state industrial arts answer questions about funding for industrial arts/technology education programs. Questions involve best sources of funding; setting up foundations for receiving funding; receiving funding through corporate grants and private foundations; and suggestions for industrial arts/technology education professionals.…