This study is the first to empirically examine how school districts allocate resources in response to capital investment revenue from statewide penny sales taxes (called SAVE funds), and whether SAVE funds affect student outputs (i.e., educational achievement). We found evidence that school districts do not use SAVE funds to increase capital…

Flaws in the tax structures supporting public schools are pointed out and suggestions are made for changes. (JD)

One of the most elusive problems confronted in designing state aid programs for the public schools has been the determination of equitable measures of local fiscal capacity. (Author)

A NEW FORMULA FOR MEASURING STATE EFFORT TO SUPPORT PUBLIC EDUCATION WAS PRESENTED IN THIS PAPER. THE MEASURE USED FOR EXPENDITURES RELATED TO CURRENT EXPENDITURES OF PUBLIC ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS FOR GENERAL CONTROL, INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICE, OPERATION, MAINTENANCE, AND FIXED CHARGES AT STATE, INTERMEDIATE, AND LOCAL LEVELS OF…

Reactions of school board members to a plan in which the government would provide families with a voucher for each school-age child, guaranteeing specific sums of money which could be paid as tuition to any "approved schools. Parents would be free to spend this to purchase educational services. Nonpublic and public schools could compete among…

Diverse economic, social, and legal concerns have brought renewed attention to the problem of financing public schools. The primary economic concern is preparing students to compete successfully in the international marketplace. The change in demographics of the United States also is a major social concern for education. Legal concerns focus on…

The three primary sources of funding for public education in America are the federal government, the state government, and the community. This paper presents an overview of trends in funding K-12 public education; the stability of local-funding sources; the value of public education as a factor in cost; political influences on school funding;…

Discusses the history of the public and private school systems in the United States, their financial development, and the current controversy over whether private school students should come under the umbrella of financial aid being requested congressionally for parents earning up to $30,000 a year. (RK)

Alaska's public schools cost $1.2 billion in the 1992-93 school year. That included both operating and capital spending and amounted to about $10,000 for each of the state's 119,000 elementary and secondary students. Roughly one-quarter of the state government's general fund budget went to the schools, covering 64 percent of costs. About 30…

After summarizing the philosophy behind the financing of public schools, this document reviews the division of legal responsibility for education between the state and federal governments; outlines the state's responsibility for providing an equal educational opportunity for its residents; and summarizes the use of federal revenues, state…

This document contains statements by educators, religious groups, government officials, constitutional experts, and concerned citizens and groups on various legislative proposals to provide aid to elementary and secondary education. The proposals would (1) provide payments to the States for elementary and secondary education, (2) redress…

After being placed on the back burner during the 1980s, school finance is again a major issue. In the 1970s, reliance on property taxes created school district disparities because of unequal tax bases. Legislative reforms enacted between 1971 and 1985 had the following characteristics: school finance formulas were revamped; the state role in…

Seventeen research studies, position statements, and statistical compilations published between 1966 and 1969 are reviewed. These documents deal with such issues as (1) the effects of financial effort and property assessment practice on educational quality, (2) the role of State aid in equalizing financial resources, (3) the crisis in financing…

Testimony recorded in these hearings was presented by: Dr. Mark Shedd, Superintendent of Schools, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Dr. Robert Blanchard, Superintendent of Schools, Portland Public Schools, Portland Oregon; Joel Berke, Director, Educational Finance and Governance Program, Policy Institute of the Syracuse University Research Corp.; James…