Reviews major issues surrounding funding of Nebraska's public schools and presents an alternative funding system sustaining the goals of local control, tax equity, and flexibility for program quality. The new formula would add an economic factor to the weighting of pupils and alow local tax flexibility for districts losing state funding. (MLH)

Court-imposed school finance equalization and tax limitation measures in California have created a centralized system of school finance. Political tensions and conflict that have arisen from this centralized control are discussed, with reference to the Serrano mandate and categorical funding. (SLD)

An introduction to Minnesota's educational finance system as of school year 1983-84, this compilation describes various aid programs, defines relevant terms, and shows how funds are allocated. The first section defines the following: the Foundation Aid Program, the state's basic school financing mechanism, which includes state and local funds with…

An introduction to Minnesota's educational finance system as of school year 1984-85, this compilation describes various aid programs, defines relevant terms, and shows how funds are allocated. The first section defines the following: the Foundation Aid Program, the state's basic school financing mechanism, which includes state and local funds with…

This report is intended to provide a brief overview of public school finance in Vermont as of 1975. Because it is aimed at a wide audience including legislators, school board members, and taxpayers, the booklet is written in generally nontechnical language and each section is designed so that it may be read independently. Separate sections of the…

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)

Utah's school districts receive equalization aid under the state's school finance program. Funds are distributed on the basis of weighted pupil units and are allocated among a number of specific programs. This document consists of tables and graphs displaying the allocation of these funds to Utah's 40 school districts during the 1982-83 school…

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 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…

Following a summary of Canadian equity policies and of specific provisions made by Alberta, a statistical analysis of the impact of the existing funding mechanism leads to the conclusion that the alternative models of power equalizing and percentage equalizing would generally increase the level of equalization. (MJL)

This final report of the Nebraska School Financing Review Commission includes the following items: (1) an examination of the role of income as a revenue source and indicator of wealth; (2) investigation of ways to reduce reliance on property tax for school support; and (3) consideration of alternate state aid distribution formulas. Also included…

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 report is designed to familiarize the reader with current changes in State systems of public school finance. It describes in summary form the major school finance changes made in 1973 by Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Montana, North Dakota, Utah, and Wisconsin. State legislative sessions in these States produced…