Examines the present financial support of schools on a State-by-State basis. Presents evidence indicating that, although there has been little shift in State financial commitment to the schools in the last ten years, factors are now evident that could cause a rapid change in the amount of State support provided in the near future. (Author/DN)

Part of the monthly Saturday Review supplement, "Education in America," sponsored by the Charles F. Kettering Foundation.

This study analyzes the self-help capabilities of the States to equip themselves with a highly productive State-local revenue system that could underwrite a major share of school costs. The present state-local revenue system is said to be impaired in its productivity and equity by: (1) the regressive impact of property, general sales, and…

This document provides background information on educational finance in North Dakota. It examines the use of nonproperty factors in financing education, the quality of education, legal action in the state regarding education finance issues, and the effects of any 1993 North Dakota legislation on education finance. The paper first describes changes…

This report describes inequities in the current school-funding process for the Auburn Enlarged City School District. Data were analyzed from two studies that compared the Auburn district to 10 other New York districts with similar enrollments or full value. Findings indicate that wide disparities exist among the districts with regard to…

This article reviews the current status of school finance in California in the aftermath of Proposition 13 and the Serrano v. Priest decision (which required determination of school funding on some basis other than district property wealth). Specific trends and directions regarding reform issues of the future are identified. (TE)

This paper reports that most of the States have appropriated more dollars to support local education than would be required to cover inflationary increases. According to the author, the new money is being channeled into equalization and foundation programs, and States are starting to experiment with "district power equalization." In its simple…

Public schools in New Jersey are financed primarily by local property taxes. This system of finance is unconstitutional, according to the New Jersey Supreme Court, and therefore it must be revised. The proposals for revision range from very slight increases in state school aid to complete state financing of schools, but all of the proposals shift…

This paper discusses the merits of cost differentials and weighted-pupil formulas as vehicles for allocating State school support funds to local school districts. The research conducted by the National Educational Finance Project to identify educational program expenditures and to develop cost differentials for each educational program in a…

This report examines the current school finance system in Oregon and recommends changes to make the system more equitable and less subject to variations in local property wealth. After briefly describing the inequities of the present system, most of the report discusses the committee's legislative recommendations and their probable impact. The…

This paper provides background information relating to a school finance reform movement in Utah and describes the passage of a 1973 bill that provides a power equalizing system to redistribute excess revenue from local taxes in combination with State uniform school funds for a guaranteed program to all districts. The law should bring the level of…

This report provides an overview of the State school aid distribution plan passed by the New Mexico legislature in 1974. The previous school finance plan, passed in 1969, and the problems school districts experienced under that plan are briefly described, followed by a discussion of the 1974 legislation. The new plan is a weighted-pupil formula…

This study investigates two problems related to federal support of elementary and secondary education in Canada: dynamic imbalances between the spending responsibilities and taxing powers of the federal and provincial governments, and the inability of different provinces to achieve comparable educational services at similar levels of financial…

The study reported in this document examined Connecticut's present system for financing public education and analyzed alternative systems. On the basis of study findings, some conclusions are presented in this report concerning (1) the total fiscal system within which Connecticut finances its schools, (2) fiscal disparities in the established…