Discusses State finance reform proposals including full State funding. (Author/JF)

Eight critical issues relevant to Kansas school finance are discussed in this report; issues include recent school finance litigation, assessment of the School District Equalization Act (SDEA), recommendations for improving the SDEA, validity of the power equalization models, measures of local district funding ability, mechanisms used by other…

Principles for public school finance are outlined with respect to an equitable allocation of educational resources by the state. The argument is advanced that equal dollars per pupil is a practical, reasonable, acceptable and attainable initial basis for school financing. Objections to the equal dollars scheme are considered, leading to an…

In the Serrano decisions, the courts found California's method of financing schools to be unconstitutional and gave the state until September 1, 1980 to reduce wealth-based expenditure differences to substantially less than $100 per pupil. The courts found three features of the state's system to be particularly onerous--the failure of the state to…

The Serrano decision has caused policy makers in California to search for departures from the current system of public school finance. Citizen and legislative evaluation of alternative finance systems is being confused by the employment of diverse interpretations of Serrano. Although the Court's decision may appear to indicate clear-cut methods of…

This paper examines the current system of capital finance for education in New Jersey in light of existing disparities in educational facilities throughout the state and the need to equalize educational quality in response to the New Jersey Supreme Court's mandate in Robinson v. Cahill. Separate sections of the report describe and critique New…

A review of the property tax system of financing education in Ontario provides historical background for the consideration of alternative approaches to reform. The problem of declining enrollment lends a sense of immediacy to the discussion. The present system of finance is found to be unsatisfactory because of inequities in property assessment…

This paper discusses some of the advantages and disadvantages of three alternative philosophical and practical approaches for the equitable distribution of state aid to local school districts. These three approaches include the "equity through uniformity" approach, implemented through a Full State Assumption school finance model; the…

In response to a legislative inquiry, a study was conducted by the Washington State Board for Community College Education (SBCCE) to determine the adequacy of policies and laws governing the state funding classification of community college courses. During the study, the SBCCE examined the extent to which the colleges were financing courses with a…

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 book offers an overview of educational finance law and examines constitutional challenges to state aid plans. Chapter 1 provides an introduction to education finance litigation, including the early history of education finance litigation and early education finance theory. Chapter 2 discusses the states' responsibilities for providing equal…

Based on information provided by state directors of community/junior college education, this report reviews state approaches to community college financing. The report includes data from 35 states, which together accounted for 86.3% of the total enrollment in community/junior colleges in 1980. Section I presents conclusions drawn from the data,…

The role of the state in funding California's community colleges may change in the wake of Proposition 13 cutbacks. Any system of statewide support must be developed around several assumptions: (1) state support will increase; (2) the college mission will remain unchanged; (3) educational demand will continue to play a substantial role in how the…

In 1980, the Ohio Board of Regents (OBR) proposed several alternative funding formulas for the state's public-assisted institutions in anticipation of enrollment declines. Two alternatives, involving subsidy ceilings and free competition for students, were dismissed in favor of a third alternative involving a system of voluntary restraints in…

This paper seeks a plan for financing education in Ontario that minimizes the disruptive effects of declining enrollment and changing enrollment patterns, is sensitive to the limitation of resources, and provides clear channels of authority and responsibility between citizen and policy maker. The author considers the alternatives for placing the…