A not-so-friendly suit brought in 1874 produced a landmark decision that paved the way for today's public high schools. (Editor)

This collection of conference papers deals with issues concerning remediation of inequality between the urban and suburban schools. Arthur Mann gives an historical account of the effects that public education have had on immigrant groups in the past. Arthur Wise argues that the inequalities in urban education are unconstitutional and cites four…

Discusses the effects of commercial-industrial tax-sharing in New Castle County, Delaware. Implementing the concept of tax sharing could help to equalize educational opportunity between wealthier and poorer school districts. (Author/GC)

Attendees at the symposium did not agree that Indiana has a tax problem, and discussion about eliminating property taxes and establishing an alternative tax structure seemed inconsistent to many who participated. Attendees felt they did not have a clear sense of the objectives for a new tax plan. They were open, however, to continuing discussion,…

Examines the recent spate of judicial decisions on school finance requiring that the quality of public education not be a function of a school district's wealth, and explores possible alternative sources of funding such as increasing State sales or income taxes or adopting a statewide property tax. (Author/SF)

Presents the arguments, pro and con, on the use of the local property tax to finance the schools. A bibliography is appended. (SJL)

This paper critically examines some of the ways in which schools are currently financed and argues for State assumption of educational costs as a viable alternative. The document begins with a description of current school district revenue sources and discusses the official division of responsibility for school finance between the State and local…

This paper outlines school finance issues that have emerged due to litigation on the constitutionality of school funding at the state level. Such funding varies from state to state, ranging from 8 percent in New Hampshire to 74 percent in New Mexico; per-child expenditures range from $1,500 to $15,000. Beginning in the 1970s, poor school districts…

This report presents the issues and findings of this conference of superintendents from the 43 largest city school systems in the nation. The conference dealt with (1) communication and cooperation between public and nonpublic school educators and their respective school systems and (2) financing the public and nonpublic components of the…

In this paper, the political and economic forces influencing attempts to reduce the inequalities in education expenditures are examined. Current programs for financing public education (local, State, and Federal) are compared. In general, State-local tax systems are found to be regressive and improvements are suggested. Inequitability of State aid…

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…

IN MARCH 1966, THE DETROIT EDUCATION ASSOCIATION REQUESTED THAT THE NATIONAL COMMISSION ON PROFESSIONAL RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION CONDUCT A FULL SCALE INVESTIGATION OF THE ALLEGED GROSS INEQUALITY OF EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE TO DETROIT'S YOUTH. THE COMMISSION DISCOVERED THAT THE ROOT OF THE…

This report contains nine speeches on various aspects of public school finance. Topics discussed include recent educational finance legislation, equalization aid, full State funding, property tax reform, and urban school finance reform. One speech describes the national public school finance picture; two others detail the Georgia school finance…

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…

One Supreme Court decision, seven federal appellate decisions, and two district court decisions were published in the area of school finance in 1990. The Supreme Court reviewed a case concerning allegations of school district segregation, along with an ensuing tax assessment issue. Federal appellate courts handed down decisions involving alleged…