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ERIC Number: ED473165
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2002-Sep
Pages: 11
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Early Returns: Tax Credit Bonds and School Construction? Policy Report.
Mead, Sara
A small federal program piloting tax credit bonds to support school construction, the Qualified Zone Academy Bond (QZAB), has existed since 1997--providing evidence of how tax credit bonds could work. This paper analyzes the results of QZABs to date in order to inform policymakers, advance the debate over federal school construction aid, and provide more effective support to schools and states in need. The report concludes that, in the absence of more substantial federal assistance, QZABs play an important role in helping needy districts build and maintain school facilities, even though they are not the most effective long-term solution to the problem. The complexity of tax credits for school construction, as well as their one-size-fits-all approach that often does not mesh well with state policies or the needs of schools and investors, make tax credits an insufficient answer to school construction needs. The report recommends that the QZAB program, with some modifications, be continued while encouraging Congress to enact a more robust, durable school construction program focused on flexible and accessible initiatives. For example, state infrastructure banks, a promising remedy to the core problem of capital access for public schools, should be explored to replace current tax credit bond programs. (An appendix presents results of a survey of state QZAB implementation.) (EV)
Progressive Policy Institute, 600 Pennsylvania Ave., S.E., Suite 400, Washington, DC 20003. Tel: 202-547-0001; Web site: http://www.ppionline.org. For full text: http://www.ppionline.org/documents/School_Construction_0902.pdf.
Publication Type: Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: Progressive Policy Inst., Washington, DC.
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A