This document consists of a series of papers by different authors on the subject of school finance and equal educational opportunity. The papers discuss equalizing educational opportunity by means of a resource equalizer or guaranteed valuation grants-in-aid; the impact of changing school finance on metropolitan areas; and three types of…

In Illinois, as in other states, minorities, Blacks and Hispanics in particular, are under-represented in higher education. The historically low rates of Black and Hispanic participation in higher education raise equity and labor supply issues. This report supplements the annual report of the Illinois Board of Higher Education and provides further…

The Illinois Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights prepared this report as part of its responsibility to advise on civil rights in Illinois and in response to an article about race relations at Proviso West High School, Hillside (Illinois) that appeared in "The New York Times." To study the racial climate and…

This monograph presents a discussion of the problems involved in implementing sex-fair coeducational classes in physical education. Suggestions, which grew out of a symposium on coeducational physical education, are offered on procedures that may be used for ability grouping, such as what type of test(s) are appropriate and when to use single or…

A project was conducted to expand the career horizons of young women and young men, with particular emphasis on the increasing options for women. The first activity completed was a comprehensive report on the employment trends of women and the implications of those trends for women's participation in vocational education programs. A curriculum…

This double issue of "The Evaluation Exchange" focuses on one of the central components of complementary learning: family involvement. As outlined in the Theory & Practice article, investments in family involvement are important across ages and settings and through the co-constructed efforts and shared responsibilities of many…

This annual report presents information on minority, female, and disabled students and staff in Illinois higher education. It seeks to explain and track recent changes in representation among these groups and highlights statewide and institutional efforts to improve representation. This year's report is divided into three sections: (1)…

Evidence from two school systems whose ability grouping and tracking systems were scrutinized in 1993 in conjunction with school desegregation cases demonstrates how grouping practices can create within-school segregation that discriminates against black and Latino students. In both cases, grouping practices created a cycle of restricted…

After visiting 30 inner-city schools in New York City, Chicago, San Antonio, Ohio, and New Jersey, the acclaimed author of "Death at an Early Age" concludes that public schools remain more separate and unequal than they were 27 years ago. Instead of embracing vouchers for school choice, we should support and fund genuine equality for all…

A study assessed the effect of theoretically consolidating elementary and secondary districts into unit districts in Illinois to achieve financial equity goals in that state. More specifically, the study was designed to develop a procedure for the theoretical formation of pseudo-unit school districts in Illinois using existing unit districts…

A study assessed access and equity with regard to mildly handicapped youth who receive vocationally oriented curricula; it also assessed the extent to which existing data and data systems are reliable indicators of access and equity in vocational education. A random sample of 293 handicapped students from secondary school districts in Illinois…

The primary sources of capital funds in Minnesota are the local capital expenditure levy and school district bond sales. The state provides assistance to low-wealth districts by providing a capital expenditure equalization aid program and two types of loans under the Maximum Effort School Aid Law. It has been argued that the concepts of equal…

This report contains a history of school district organization in Illinois, a statistical profile of Illinois education today, a survey of selected districts offering quality education, and an agenda for change. Findings indicate that, of the measurable factors affecting the quality of local educational opportunity, district size is most critical.…

This document consists of a series of papers by different authors on the subject of school finance and equal educational opportunity. One group of papers studies the effect of State aid on the scope of the educational program, reports on the status of capital assistance financing for the Illinois Public Schools, and illustrates the method of…

This report describes fiscal year 1998 grant allocations made under the Illinois Higher Education Cooperation Act (HECA) to support programs and projects involving cooperation among higher education institutions. A total of $16.59 million was allocated. Projects recommended for grant funds include 3 new and 12 continuing interinstitutional…