Michigan's state-run school system is the largest and most expensive government service taxpayers support. It employs more than 350,000 people who work in one of the more than 4,100 different entities. The total amount this system expends each year adds up to more than $20 billion. Given the enormity and complexity of the system, it's no surprise…

This paper discusses four arguments for full State funding of schools: (1) the State is the logical and legal governmental unit to guarantee equal educational opportunity and program adequacy, (2) the State can command revenues through a variety of taxes whereby districts are generally limited to property taxes, (3) students in sparsely settled…

This report discusses the dispute in Arizona over the 1967 legislation regulating educational finance and offers alternatives to that legislation. The document describes factors and issues relevant to an understanding of the present dispute, defines accepted principles of educational finance, provides factual information about Arizona's support of…

This publication presents model state educational legislation prepared by the Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (ACIR) for consideration by individual state legislatures. The ACIR is concerned with improving relationships between federal, state, and local governments; the ACIR legislative program places considerable emphasis on…

This report, volume II of an indepth study of special levy problems in Washington State, represents the results of a study commission examination of finance and curriculum and contact with commission counterparts in the Federal Government, and a review of the work of other States. Included in this volume are (1) a funding formula simulation study…

This paper examines previous changes in school finance reform, makes some future projections about the direction finance reform might go, and indicates what strategies seem particulary effective. It begins at the Federal level by taking a look at the overall Federal budget picture and its implications for the Federal role. The author proposes that…

This study focuses on the political feasibility of some of the alternatives open to States for raising educational revenue and allocating funds to local school districts. Eight states -- California, Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, Michigan, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, and Oregon -- were chosen for study, to represent a range in (1) the level of State…

This report consists of 19 conference papers, most of which focus on the current problems, issues, and trends in educational finance; while several deal with cost effectiveness and levels of productivity. Since the concept of productivity focuses on outputs, other papers are concerned with the output-oriented concepts of accountability and…

In this speech, the author discusses the sources of revenue for public education and the methods of distributing funds for its financing. The discussion is based on the underlying premise that equalizing educational opportunity is desirable. The author points out trends in educational legislation and common philosophical points of view on school…

This document was written to inform the general community about the financial problems schools are having and to suggest alternative ways by which schools could be financed. It cites examples of school budget crises throughout the nation, presents a breakdown of present sources of school revenue, discusses how money affects the quality of…

Limitations on governmental taxing and/or spending, exemplified by the "Proposition 13" initiative in California, have been instituted or proposed in a large number of states. As the movement spreads, state education agencies (SEAs) and, especially, chief state school officers have fundamental policy decisions to make. Areas where the…

This paper describes the processes and methodology used in a 3-year study of the Kentucky Foundation Program--a body of related Kentucky revised statutes which directs the amount and flow of State aid for public education in the State. A technical committee, a research committee, a citizens advisory council, and local study committees examined…

This document was written to inform a low income black community about the financial problems schools are having and to elicit their reactions to alternative ways by which schools could be financed. The document cites examples of school budget crises throughout the nation, presents a breakdown of present sources of school revenue, discusses how…

This review summarizes the recommendations of the President's Commission on School Finance and provides an annotated listing of the 34 project reports. The conclusions and recommendations are discussed under the following areas of concern: (1) establishing the preminence of State government in education, (2) initiating full State funding of…

During the past several years, policymakers and practitioners have concentrated their energies on resolving equity/adequacy issues, reforming school tax structures, improving schools' efficiency and cost-effectiveness, developing school-based accountability, and exploring alternative cost-cutting and fundraising strategies. Total expenditures for…