Since the publication of the seventh edition of this textbook in 1999, there have been many new developments in the education finance arena. Those changes are discussed in this eighth edition. Additional new material includes Internet resources, new exercises for further "laboratory" work, updated figures and tables, and fresh information on court cases and legislative mandates. The theme of the book remains the same: Though progress continues to be made, reform in school finance systems is still overdue. The text is intended to be a basic course in school finance for education students. School board members, school administrators, teachers, legislators, and others interested in school finance should also find the information useful. Topics covered in the text's 16 chapters include the economics of education; equitable education financing; financial plans; sources of revenue; issues of fiscal control; the role of state and federal governments in education; the influence and climate of the courts; administering the school budget; accounting; auditing; risk management; payroll policies and procedures; and the future of education financing. Each chapter contains a chapter summary, a list of assignment projects, selected readings, and endnotes. (Contains an appendix that summarizes important federal programs and an index.) (WFA)