Increased attention to proposed federal early childhood education (ECE) legislation has sparked a debate on what the future holds for state-funded ECE systems. This brief explores how the goal of universal preschool is being shaped by the federal agenda and examines state programs in various stages of development. President Obama's Preschool for…

Discusses Minnesota's recent tax reform legislation which provides for increased state financing of education. (JF)

Presents the full text of the Minnesota case that found the method of financing public education in that State to be in violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. (JF)

Data on 431 Minnesota school districts' use of the "referendum levy" (above the regular tax rate) and the "discretionary levy" (extending state aided taxes) indicate wealthier districts use the referendum levy more, yielding higher tax rates and more revenue. Referendum levies adjusted through district power equalizing should…

The formulas used to determine the financial support available to Minnesota's school districts from the state are presented in this booklet along with examples of their application in a hypothetical district. The booklet first reviews a number of terms used in discussing Minnesota's aid program, then describes the foundation programs and…

American Indian education in Minnesota during 1970-71 is described in this report. Data presented in tabular form include financial reports; special state aid; enrollment and attendance; per pupil costs for schooling, hot lunches, and transportation; 8th and 12th grade graduates; and the rate of school taxes. Information is also provided for some…

This report consists mainly of four separate issue papers, each prepared by an individual committee of the Minnesota School Task Force. Topics of the papers include educational management systems, Minnesota's state foundation aid program, school tax levy limitations, and educational overburden. In addition to the issue papers, the report also…

This study documents the revenue and expenditure patterns for categories of school districts and for individual school districts. The fiscal impact of the current system, the nature and extent of fiscal disparities, and the factors that contribute to the disparities are examined. An attempt is made to distinguish between disparities among…

Information on trends in salaries of full-time faculty in Washington public higher education institutions and recommendations regarding a restructured salary survey and methods for calculating salary increases are presented. An analysis of out-of-state salary and compensation levels upon which recommendations for Washington salary adjustments in…

After tracing the historical development of its present school finance system, the author considers Minnesota's school finance court cases and the finance disparities among its local school districts that led the 1971 legislature to increase State aid given to local school districts for maintenance expenditures. The document reviews the…

This report describes a study aimed to help education advocates protect public schools and services from the effects of certain types of economic development subsidies. These subsidies include cutting companies' property taxes and granting long-term diversions of certain districts' property taxes to corporations making investment in those…

This study's purpose was to explore the premise that increasing state support for elementary/secondary schools increases equal student access to educational opportunity. Following a brief overview of the background of the problem, including a description of the so-called "Minnesota Miracle" or Omnibus Tax Law of 1971 with its provisions…

The Minnesota school finance system is the method by which funds are provided for the operation of public elementary and secondary schools and public postsecondary vocational-technical institutes. This document comprises a reference guide for state legislators to the Minnesota school finance system. It begins with historical and legal background…

A study investigated the attitudes of vocational education decision makers toward the governance of Minnesota's Area Vocational Technical Institutes (AVTIs) and the impact removal of a local tax to support the AVTIs might have on governance. Five categories of individuals, all considered vocational education decision makers, were surveyed: AVTI…