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 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 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…

Volume 1 of a two-volume series, this case study tells the story of the events and decisions associated with the 1976 court-ordered shutdown of schools in New Jersey. It also analyzes the state educational decision-making structure. The school closing was undertaken because, according to the New Jersey Supreme Court, the state had not properly…

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…

Fiscal inefficiency in education is addressed in this book and ideas for achieving increased efficiency while more effectively using resources to maintain reasonable equality of opportunity in higher education are examined. Fourteen articles and authors that consider social efficiency, equity, and policy implications are as follows: "Efficiency…