The status of statewide planning for postsecondary education in Mississippi is examined. Existing planning efforts and results for public universities, public junior colleges, private junior and senior colleges, and proprietary schools are described. Information was obtained primarily from published reports of the institutions, letters,…

A reform in the grant-in-aid system passed in Illinois in the summer of 1973 was evaluated. The State Changed on that date from a foundation system to a district power equalization system. Operational definitions of fiscal policy goals, such as fiscal neutrality and permissible variance of expenditures, were established and measurements taken…

State policymakers will want to make clear the intent of a policy on choice when they write their legislative bills. The purpose for the policy will help parents, students, educators, and the general public understand their action and the reasons for the action. This study discusses 11 issues included in legislative bills and gives a brief summary…

In 1988, there were two United States Supreme Court decisions regarding school finance. One decision upheld the constitutionality of a North Dakota statute regarding transportation fees, and the other decision ruled that interest from state and local government bearer bonds was subject to federal income taxation. Cases discussed in this chapter…

The Guastello-Zollar funding formula provides a foundation of state financial support to community colleges based on a "fair share partnership" concept of funding and a program of investment/incentive grants awarded to encourage colleges to implement programs which have high priority in Michigan's educational policy goals. The fair share…

This document presents the final recommendations and background papers of a task force empowered by the Michigan legislature to consider the mission and roles of the state community colleges, alternative funding modes, and the responsibilities and interrelationships of the state and local governing boards. Following an overview of recommendations…

This brief paper suggests that state leaders create charter districts in which all or most schools are charter or contract schools. Such districts, according to the paper, would help policymakers create school systems that focus on student achievement and provide high-quality choices to students and parents. The paper examines why charter…

Data on the community college system in Arizona are provided in five sections. The first section lists the State Board members, outlines Board and Central Staff expenditures, and provides the philosophy of the community colleges. The second section locates the nine college districts, the 14 colleges, ten skill centers, and 22 campuses. The third…

Designed for use by students, policy-makers, educational administrators, social scientists, and lay citizens, this book analyzes three basic educational issues: the economics of education, the politics of educational finance, and the "new political economy" of education, which employs economic methods to study those governmental institutions…

Major issues affecting higher education in Texas in the 1980s are identified in 20 working papers from outside consultants, the academic community, and Texas College and University System Coordinating Board staff. Topics and authors include: higher education in Texas in the 1980s (Christopher Dede); leadership in higher education (Joseph…

A growing interest in the use of nonproperty sources to replace an overburdened property tax, actually or psychologically, has been evident in recent years, particularly as school district levies have been running into stiff voter opposition. However, because school districts have relied on the property tax for their major and often sole source of…

Information about 14 southern states and the progress of their colleges and universities is presented and compared with national standards. The 1981 and 1982 profiles for Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) states pertain to population and economies, enrollment and institutions, degrees, institutional finances, student finances, and faculty.…