Texas has had its Robin Hood school financing system in place since 1993, when the legislature adopted the system in response to a state supreme court order to equalize state spending on public schools. Under the arrangement, any district that has taxable property values exceeding $305,000 per student is not allowed to keep all of its property-tax…

Discusses four themes in the efforts to secure public support for private education: (1) to save private schools from disappearing; (2) to preserve benefits already received; (3) to gain benefits wrongfully denied; and (4) to effect reform via support for private schools. (JOW)

Presents the arguments, pro and con, on the use of the local property tax to finance the schools. A bibliography is appended. (SJL)

The position is presented that state funding of public education would provide greater equality in the allocation of educational resources within each state; provide a broader, more reliable, and expansive revenue base; and revitalize local influence in educational policy. (Author/CTM)

The position is presented that local property taxes provide a stable source of income during periods of economic downturn and that state taxes and disbursements for education are less likely to receive popular support. (CTM)

The breakdown or "dumbing down" occurring in today's public schools stems not from poorer teaching but from poorer parenting. The parents most responsible for making public school a priority were goaded by memories of the Great Depression. As prosperity increased, parental attitudes have changed. Citizens of some states (like Indiana)…

The author examines sources of taxpayer discontent with property taxes and with public education. He proposes full state funding as a solution to education's financial dilemma. (Author/SJL)

The author proposes a tax target plan by which taxpayers could earmark their payments to the local public school of their choice. Several levels of this plan are described and feasibility and costs discussed. (SJL)

Explores the great diversity of public and private support of education in various countries. Part I presents a theoretical model relating the relative size of the educational private sector to excess and heterogeneous demand. Part II applies this model to the United States, Japan, Holland, and India. Includes 18 references. (MLH)

This article reviews the current status of school finance in California in the aftermath of Proposition 13 and the Serrano v. Priest decision (which required determination of school funding on some basis other than district property wealth). Specific trends and directions regarding reform issues of the future are identified. (TE)

Describes the debate in Canada about using property taxes to fund education. Reviews alternatives to the property tax and discusses education funding in provinces across Canada. (LMI)

Presents results of a study exploring how demographic trends are affecting political support for public education. Explains that the study expected and found that parents would support increases in public school taxes more than nonparents. Suggests that political ideology was a stronger indicator of support for public education than was…

Argues that recent federal education legislation will not eliminate unequal funding, school performance inequities, and student achievement gaps that have persisted in the poorest school districts. Asserts that adequate, equitable, and targeted human and financial resources and standards are necessary, and that the slight increases in federal…