Educators should adopt 21st-century goals for elected officials. By 2000, all public servants will be ready to serve the public, increase their speeches'"truth" rate, balance the budget, avoid special-interest pressures, adequately finance education and health, become knowledgeable enough to lead the U.S. global economy and guarantee…

Beginning each January, governors summarize accomplishments, present challenges, and propose solutions. As one might expect, a certain amount of rhetoric accompanies the listing of accomplishments. But when that rhetoric is stripped away, patterns of gubernatorial focus can be seen. Some of these patterns might be linked to common state…

Extracurricular activities, particularly sports, have a long-standing tradition in public schools. However, the cost of running extracurricular programs has risen steeply. In many districts, state and local funding is shrinking, and extracurricular activities are often the first items to be put on the chopping block. In this article, the authors…

As states modify their school finance systems in pursuit of equity, play a larger role in setting the level of teacher salaries, and link school finance and improvement, state control of schools is growing. However, state support of schools will decrease as property taxes increase. (DCS)

Suggests that Florida's finance formula to relieve interdistrict cost-of-living differences fails to equalize school district attractiveness. (DW)

Describes the California legislature's education-related response to Proposition 13 and analyzes the likely long-range effects of that response--including its effect on revenue stability, expenditure equality, and school governance. (Author/IRT)

Reports results from the 1984 Canadian Education Association poll of public opinion of education. This is the first Canadian survey of its kind. (MD)

The social and economic problems that are affecting New York City are not local problems. Adequate responses to the problems will require state and federal help. (IRT)

Critique of Arthur E. Wise's article, "The Constitutional Challenge to Inequities in School Finance, published in the November issue of "Phi Delta Kappan". (HT)

Over time, Congress has put the reauthorization of various programs on cycles that prevent lawmakers from considering and understanding the relationship between these programs and children's needs. When reauthorizing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, Congress should consider allowing schools to pool funds from all federal programs…

Summertime is traditionally a time to relax, reflect on the school year past, plan for the coming year ahead, tune in or tune out the political rhetoric, and catch up on reading. To aid in the last effort, Anne C. Lewis, a national education policy writer, wanted to continue a little tradition she started a couple of years ago and suggest some…