At these hearings, the following witnesses presented testimony: Dr. Thord M. Marshall, superintendent of education, Savannah, Georgia; Dr. Elbert D. Brooks, director, Metropolitan Public Schools, Nashville, Tenn.; Dr. Raymond Shelton, superintendent of schools, Hillsborough County, Tampa, Florida; Dr. John M. Franco, superintendent of schools,…

Since the state of Florida enacted stricter academic standards for high schools, the dropout rate has increased and middle schools have suffered. Funds formerly intended for elementary and middle schools are being used to sustain high school reform programs. School reform at one level has serious implications for other levels. (MD)

Two provisions in Title I--maintenance of effort (MOE) and supplement not supplant (SNS)--are designed to limit the extent to which federal funds can be used to replace state and local resources. To assess the quality of oversight of these provisions, the General Accounting Office (GAO) determined how Arizona, California, Florida, Indiana,…

This report is a collection of five state case studies comprising a major component of the first phase of the project, "Changing Direction: Integrating Higher Education Financial Aid and Financing Policies." The project explored state-level strategies to better align financing and financial aid policies and support more informed decision…

Explores the ramifications of the wealth tax as an alternative funding source for elementary and secondary education in Florida by constructing and quantifying a wealth tax base for the state of Florida and each of its school districts. (JG)

Florida is becoming a favored environment for the college fund raiser. Fund-raising statistics suggest that Florida relies on donors who are not their alumni, and an increasing number are older citizens who have moved to the state or who spend the winter months there. (MLW)

This article reports on a nationally-watched case by educators and families which is scheduled to be heard by the Florida Supreme Court. The court is to decide whether Opportunity Scholarships, available to students enrolled in Florida's persistently lowest-rated public schools, run afoul of a prohibition on using public money in religious…

Nearly all Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) states have a state-sponsored virtual school, and the remaining states are either planning or beginning initial implementation. Just 12 years ago, none of the 50 states used the Web to provide courses to middle grades or high school students. By 2000, several SREB states, including Florida,…

This paper presents a profile of Miami-Dade's Quality Counts prepared as part of the Child Care Quality Rating System (QRS) Assessment Study. The profile consists of several sections and their corresponding descriptions including: (1) Program Information; (2) Rating Details; (3) Quality Indicators for Center-Based Programs; (4) Indicators for…

Florida's new school finance formula is characterized by a three mills power equalization scheme on top of a Strayer-Haig foundation plan. Finance legislation is predicated on the intent to equalize educational opportunity while increasing the authority and responsibility of districts for deciding matters of instructional organization and method.…

RECOMMENDATIONS ARE PRESENTED FOR DEVELOPING A MATURE SYSTEM OF VOCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION IN MICHIGAN. THE NEEDS OF EDUCATION ARE PRESENTED. SECONDARY INSTITUTIONS, POSTSECONDARY PROGRAMS, FINANCING, STATE SUPERVISION, TEACHERS, RESEARCH, AND COUNSELING ARE DISCUSSED. THE HUB OF THE VOCATIONAL EDUCATION SYSTEM OF TOMORROW WILL BE THE…

On June 26, 1973, the system for financing elementary and secondary education in Florida was radically altered when the Florida legislature passed the Florida Education Finance Program Act of 1973. Significant features of this act include (1) substantially increased fiscal equalization; (2) a systematic plan and substantial State commitment to…

The following questions are answered in this information brief: (1) Does tuition pay the full cost of a student's undergraduate education at a state university? (2) How much does the State contribute for an undergraduate Florida student? (3) How much did the state contribute in financial assistance? (4) What activities are included in calculating…

This paper describes Florida's school choice program, instituted in 2000, for students with disabilities. It reports that, during 2000-01, the McKay Scholarship Program for Students with Disabilities provided scholarships to more than 1,000 students who chose to attend private schools rather than remain in their neighborhood public schools. It…

Florida's rapidly growing public school system enrolls over 2 million students. Total operating costs are over $11 billion annually. School funding declined in the early 1990s and is still 3% below the pre-recession peak. Despite an $11 billion tobacco industry settlement, the state is pushing fiscal performance incentives instead of increasing…