A selected summary is provided of: (1) Iowa school laws relating to area schools; and (2) standards for area community colleges and area vocational schools. Part one contains the specific Chapters (280A and 286A, Code of Iowa) which pertain to the area schools. Chapter 280A deals with the organization of the school and county systems; plans for…

The law establishing Maryland's program of full State funding of public school construction costs became effective as of July 1, 1971. This report describes the beginnings of the program, traces its development, and attempts to appraise its effectiveness. In preparing the report, the author reviewed minutes of the various agencies and committees…

This advisory for superintendents on the California Mentor Teacher Program provides background information, discusses issues in initial program planning, describes the state department of education's role and upcoming activities in program implementation, and gives information on funding for the program. The background section describes the…

Concentrating on states' needs for programs offered by institutions of higher education (IHE) and the manner in which these needs can be met and financed, the 3-part paper analyzes the elements included by "The Chronicle of Higher Education" in its ranking of states' suppoort of higher education based on the results of the Chambers…

This paper examines the development of Alaska's Public School Fund, its current status, and its potential as a major revenue source for elementary and secondary education. The fund, which was created following the 1915 federal school lands grant to Alaska, is examined for the 1916-58 territorial period, the 1959-78 early statehood period, and the…

A selected summary is provided of the Iowa state legislation relating to area schools and standards for area community colleges and vocational schools. Part I contains the specific chapters (280A and 286A) of the Code of Iowa that pertain to area vocational schools and community colleges. Chapter 280A deals with the organization of school and…

This paper describes the development of school finance reform in Oregon from 1968 through legislative enactments in 1973 and proposals for the voters in 1974. The first section describes the 1973 school finance reform proposal, rejected by voters, as it was originally submitted (whereby the State would have assumed 95 percent of the operating…

Just 1 day before a court-imposed deadline of June 1, 1993, Texas Governor Ann Richards signed into law Senate Bill 7 (S.B. 7), the newest version of the Texas school finance system. This paper describes the state's new school finance system with regard to the following: (1) its constitutionality; (2) the provision of a system that equalizes…

This summary provides an overview of developments in school finance litigation since the United States Supreme Court's historic and lamentable 1973 ruling in "San Antonio Independent School District v. Rodriguez" that wealth-based discrimination in educational expenditures does not violate the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to…

Unlike many other states, Michigan's school-finance reform was triggered not by a lawsuit but by legislative action that eliminated the property tax as a revenue source for public schools. Changes included an increase in the sales tax from 4 to 6 cents and a move to a foundation grant formula, which included a state foundation-allowance target for…

Following an overview of the growth of publicly supported junior colleges in Colorado and corresponding state legislation and policies of the Colorado State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education, this paper presents the present position of the Board on issues of student access and the establishment and maintenance of community…

This report contains recommendations for providing for the health needs of all school-age children in Missouri through health services in the public schools that are designed to detect problems, reduce absenteeism, and reduce the failure or dropout rate. An implementation plan described in opening sections includes five components: (1)…

This report presents an analysis of Illinois' present educational finance system and makes recommendations for future legislation to improve the system. The report discusses (1) State constitutional provisions, (2) the present tax structure and alternative taxing methods, (3) proposed distribution formulas and equalization methods, (4) financing…

Research during the 1960's revealed that the benefits and burdens of public schooling were not equal. At the same time, the "taxpayers revolt" was taking place in school districts all across the country. Constitutional challenges struck down state systems of school finance in a half-dozen or so states. Fourteen states enacted substantial…

This publication presents recommendations for state policy that are meant to promote the simultaneous reform of both K-12 education and teacher education. The main body of the document consists of recommendations based on recurring themes gleaned from interviews with state leaders: (1) the state legislature should adopt statutory provisions…