To convince voters to approve a school tax increase, school board members need to do the following: (1) show a fiscally tight and well-organized school district; (2) show the public that you care; (3) show a sense of personal and board conviction; (4) explain how decisions have been reached; and (5) educate the public about school issues. (MLF)

Summarizes the federal treasury regulation governing the deductibility of educational expenses and outlines why it is disadvantageous to student taxpayers. Proposes that Congress permit the accelerated amortization of qualified educational costs over a five-year horizon. (155 references) (MLF)

In 1993 the Michigan Legislature voted to eliminate the property tax as a source of school revenue, cutting the educational budget by $6.3 billion. An alternative funding source was not identified. Proponents of the bill say it will move the Michigan educational system into the 21st century; opponents criticize the bill as being a political…

This paper contains three articles which present the opinions of the authors on public college tuition and state finance. The problem addressed is the large increase in tuition charged by public sector, four-year colleges coupled with the effects of fiscal constraints facing the states. After an introduction by Richard J. Novak, the papers are:…

Trends during the 1980s are described including high infant mortality, no decline in low birthweight percentages, an increase in the black-white infant mortality gap, more high-risk pregnancies, and inadequate prenatal care. Inadequate progress in reducing infant mortality is attributed in part to the limited technological ability to save…

This brief paper suggests that state leaders create charter districts in which all or most schools are charter or contract schools. Such districts, according to the paper, would help policymakers create school systems that focus on student achievement and provide high-quality choices to students and parents. The paper examines why charter…