Although the federal Goals 2000 program provides supplemental funding for systemic education reform, states' fiscal abilities to finance systemic reform are stressed. This paper presents findings of a study that analyzed the extent of fiscal equity present in the southern states and examined the status of systemic reform, school-finance…

This book presents concerns and raises questions about the choice programs being proposed and implemented around the United States. It argues that poorly conceived, hastily enacted choice programs may do more harm than good. The demand for educational choice may result in lost opportunities for students (some groups more than others), weakened…

In rural Oregon, the one-school, 240-student K-12 Perrydale school district faces the possibility of consolidation with another school district. Oregon's Ballot Measure 5, passed in 1991, reduced property taxes to equally low levels around the state, drying up much of the locally raised money that is the lifeblood of school districts. In addition…

The recent decision to award government funding to two independent Muslim schools in Britain has brought attention to the use of public funds for private institutions. This paper provides an overview of the movement for equal treatment of Muslim institutions and explores the issues surrounding equitable treatment of religious minorities. The paper…

This report reviews research on rural education produced between 1986 and 1993. The review focuses on equity of educational opportunity; financial, curricular, and staffing issues; research agendas; and educational reform. The literature demonstrates that educational opportunity for rural school populations often is substandard, especially when…

For the past 25 years, the Gallup Organization and Phi Delta Kappa (PDK), a national fraternity of educators, have conducted an annual poll of opinion on education and educational issues in the United States. This report presents findings of the poll, which was adapted for and conducted in North Carolina in 1993. Data were collected through…

An analysis of the effect of the Kansas School District Equalization Act (SDEA) of 1973 on public school financing is provided in this consultants' report on behalf of six plaintiff school districts in "Newton United School District 373 et al., v. the State of Kansas." Following an introduction, the second section sets forth the initial…

This research addressed two major issues: (1) equity as it is reflected in the access of students to educational resources; and (2) efficiency as it is reflected in the use of the resources provided for the education of children. The research, which was begun in 1979, was designed to obtain data on the use of resources and the structure of…

The evolution of student financial aid and current trends of increasing college costs and decreased federal aid are discussed. The objective of removing barriers to opportunity has resulted in the award of aid according to some measure of student and family need. While the need-based approach originated and evolved within the educational…

This statement paper articulates the National Urban League's position that public education has failed to fulfill its mission for many students in general and for black and poor students in particular. The statement reviews recent education reports, delineates the League's position on current educational issues, and suggests programmatic…

Using data gathered from the West Virginia Education and Tax Departments, from school architects, from the State Building Trades Council, and from the United States Census Bureau, this study relates the per pupil cost of new school buildings in West Virginia to financial conditions, school district demography, and building characteristics. A total…

A 1977 restudy of Colorado school finance, following a 1974 study of the effects of the state's 1973 finance reforms, indicates that Colorado school finance is still unequal. Colorado's school finance program is essentially a resource equalization plan (also known as a "guaranteed tax base" or "district power equalization"…

Selected financial and program records of nine administrative units of Michigan's Bilingual/Migrant Education Program from October 1, 1978 through September 30, 1983 were examined in an audit to assess fairness of fund allocation, compliance with appropriate laws and regulations, adequacy of administrative performance, and priority of school…

Describes the Louisiana Consent Decree, a federally imposed program to correct racial segregation and gross resource distribution inequities in the state's system of higher education institutions. Focuses on the following: (1) governance; (2) faculty development; (3) cooperative programs; (4) enhancement of Black institutions; and (5) monitoring…

This report, a letter to the Chairman of the Education Task Force of the Committee on the Budget of the United States Senate, summarizes work the General Accounting Office (GAO) has completed from 1990 through 1997 addressing early childhood, elementary, and secondary education issues. The GAO has identified the need for improvement in the…