In 1994 and 1995, most school-finance legislation at the state level dealt with state aid--36 out of 127 bills introduced in 1994 and 31 out of 212 bills introduced in 1995. This report presents 13 tables that summarize the content of state legislation and identify bills that addressed the formation of study committees, the use of lottery funds to…

Texas public school finance is undergoing reform in response to a state Supreme Court decision in Edgewood I.S.D. v. Kirby, that declared the school finance system in violation of the "efficient clause" of the state constitution. State aid has declined since 1984 due to state revenue constraints, reform mandates largely funded from local…

After decades of media attention, study, and lawsuits, the solution to inequities in school funding remains elusive. This paper examines several strategies that states have used to try to close the funding disparities in per-pupil spending. It explains the two definitions of equity in the school-finance arena and identifies some important trends…

This paper describes current school-funding policy issues in Washington State. The first part examines how Initiative 601, an initiative aimed at curbing state taxes and spending, will create fiscal instability for school districts. Difficulties include an expected growth in school enrollment exceeding population growth, an expected growth of…

After being placed on the back burner during the 1980s, school finance is again a major issue. In the 1970s, reliance on property taxes created school district disparities because of unequal tax bases. Legislative reforms enacted between 1971 and 1985 had the following characteristics: school finance formulas were revamped; the state role in…

Declining enrollments and fiscal stringency in the 1980's and 1990's must be met by a new management style if higher education in California is to maintain quality and meet the educational needs of the public. Unlike the situation in the 1960's and 1970's, higher education is now faced with a no-growth situation brought about by: (1) fewer young…

This review of tax limitation legislation and its impact on the community college, begins by examining the provisions of this type of legislation, its historical precedents, the extent to which tax limitation legislation was passed in the 1970's, and its implications for local control of community college services. Next, it is noted that…

Three reports are presented that address the problem of implementing 1978-79 contingency plans developed by the Los Angeles Community College District in response to a June 1978 property tax reduction initiative, Proposition 13. Report No. 1 provides an overview of district problems resulting from the tax limitation measure. Fiscal and educational…

The shifting political milieu which surrounded and conditioned all of Illinois' educational endeavors in the half century after 1870 is discussed. Studies of those elements of society which have influenced the development of schools have often neglected the political milieu that affects educational policy-making at the state level. The political…

The allocation of education funds by State legislatures, the attitudes of legislators on educational issues, and the interaction of legislators with education lobbyists in Massachusetts, North Carolina, Utah, and Oregon were studied in an attempt to explain how educational resources are allocated in the 50 States and how legislators approach the…

Factors to be considered when developing a new formula for financing public education in Connecticut are discussed in light of the Horton v. Meskill ruling, which declared Connecticut's financing method in violation of the state constitution. Formulas used by other states that may be applicable to Connecticut are also examined. (SF)

Massachusetts' public education system has a long history of excellence and high regard. Recently, a declining economy, changed demographics, and a conservative government have placed the commonwealth's schools in crisis. This article describes recent state educational reforms, particularly funding and programmatic initiatives, highlighting 1985…

The system for financing education in Illinois fails to deliver sufficient resources to the school districts that need them most. Although no individual or administrative unit acts to deprive particular groups, the system as a whole does. Using Census figures, state and local tax records and information from the Illinois Board of Education, this…

This analysis is the first in a series of seven reports on the ways that the urban fiscal crisis has affected children. It discusses the issue in general, and provides an overview of the other reports. Over the past 100 years, all levels of government have developed public services responsible for the health, education, protection and physical and…

A review of the literature concerning educational finance, taxation, and California's Proposition 13 (1978) reveals that educational institutions encountered financial pressures before the passage of Proposition 13, and that these pressures--hardly specific to California--are highly visible in the South Carolina Technical Education System. The…