The State Higher Education Finance (SHEF) report is a tool to help policy makers and educators address broad public policy questions. SHEF seeks to inform policy deliberations with information and perspective on financial issues and national trends. The fiscal year 2006 SHEF study builds on the work of Kent Halstead, who conceptualized and implemented a report on state finance for higher education and created a file of state financial data that extends back to 1972. The report also draws on surveys and analytical tools established in 1962 by M.M. Chambers and maintained by his successors; their work provides reference points for cross-validation. (Contains 13 figures and 2 tables.) [Additional contributors include: Charles S. Lenth, Paul E. Lingenfelter, Hans P. L'Orange, and Susan B. Winter. This is an Executive Overview of "State Higher Education Finance, FY 2006." For full report, see ED502192. For the FY 2005 summary, see ED502195.]