State equalization programs for school funding have been structured around variously weighted combinations of district wealth, tax effort and student need. For rural and small school districts, these programs have not always provided adequate financing. Nine rural school finance alternatives are suggested. (MH)

The inclusion of a geographical isolation factor in a state's distribution formula for foundation aid is a mechanism for providing additional revenue to small schools or school districts that, because of geographical location, cannot be consolidated into more efficient units. This paper presents a model geographical isolation factor that could be…

This final report by four universities outlines a 6-year project, begun in 1961, under the sponsorship of the Ford Foundation. The project was designed to study and demonstrate the feasibility of an interinstitutional program of internship in educational administration. The report covers (1) the program proposal and rationale; (2) details of the…

The study's primary task was to develop a definition for quality education in order to compare programs being offered in different sized rural school districts. Based upon the results, Iowa's smaller rural school districts deserve more political and educational attention and credit for offering quality educational opportunities. (Author/BR)

Recent court decisions requiring changes in State educational finance systems have not invalidated the use of local property taxes as a revenue source for education, nor have they dictated that the same amount of dollars must be spent on every pupil. In short, these decisions have left with the State legislatures the responsibility to fashion new…

In Oregon, many schools and school districts are turning to private funding to help sustain and enrich the quality of education in their districts. Their vehicle of choice: the local education foundation (LEF). This report describes the nature of private fund raising for public schools and examines its uses as a partial remedy for budget…

THE EFFECTS OF A 1962 NEW YORK STATE AID TO EDUCATION ACT WERE INVESTIGATED IN RELATION TO AN OLD FOUNDATION PROGRAM. THIS STATE AID TO EDUCATION ACT WAS BASED ON THE CONCEPT OF SHARED COST. BOTH NEW AND OLD PROGRAMS WERE APPRAISED WITH RESPECT TO THE OBJECTIVES OF SCHOOL FISCAL POLICY--EQUITY OF SUPPORT (EQUAL TREATMENT OF EQUALS), EQUALIZATION…

Using extensive data from before and after school finance reforms, the author analyzes the reforms' effects on school finance inequities in Michigan and Missouri, for all school districts and for suburban districts. In Michigan, data from 1970-71 show, the state met neither of two equity standards--equality in expenditure per pupil and fiscal…

The purpose of this manual is to provide information regarding school finance reform in the state of California to the legislature, governor, education department, teachers, and other interest groups. Chapter 1 briefly describes disparities in expenditures for education among California school districts, first using a sample of school districts…

This manual provides an introduction to the system of financing elementary and secondary education in Florida. School finance reform in Florida, the paper notes, has been considered a success primarily due to a grouping of conditions that created an atmosphere conducive to reform. Chapter 1 explains how the state's education finance plan operates…

This manual provides an introduction and guide to the system of financing elementary and secondary education in the state of New York. Chapter 1 explains how the state's education finance plan operates by allowing districts to calculate aid under two foundation formulas. Chapter 2 describes how the state's plan addresses disparities by equalizing…

What happens to fine public school systems when equalization causes expenditures to be cut back to some level that is determined outside the community? Offers a case study from the two-school New Trier High School district on Chicago's suburban North Shore. (Author/RK)

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)

THE STATE AID TO EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN KENTUCKY, MISSOURI, AND TENNESSEE ARE INVESTIGATED WITH RESPECT TO THEIR COMPENSATION FOR DIFFERENCES IN THE ABILITY OF LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO SUPPORT EDUCATION. A HYPOTHETICAL AID FORMULA WAS USED AS A STANDARD AGAINST WHICH TO MEASURE THE PRESENT EQUALIZATION SCHEMA IN EACH OF THE THREE STATES. KENTUCKY…

This document gathers together the Alaska state statutes dealing specifically with education and those affecting education although not limited solely to education. Both elementary and secondary education and postsecondary education are dealt with. The topics covered include the administration of the schools; the rights and responsibilities of…