During the late 1960s and early 1970s a tax revolt occurred that affected school budgets in states in which citizens vote on school taxes and budgets. While the revolt was started by persons opposed to any tax increases, it was helped by those who felt that reduced enrollments should mean lower school costs and by those who felt that only persons…

The partial financing of New York State's public schools with a state-mandated tax coupled with state aid based upon county or regional wealth rather than local district wealth would provide greater equalization of both revenues and expenditures of school districts than does the present law. A comparable increase in state aid appropriations under…

The effects of school size, fiscal independence, fiscal dependence, public vote, and tax limitation on 11 measures of educational quality are investigated. Data obtained from 1,222 city school districts are analyzed statistically. The data substantiate the conclusions of previous observers that excessive school district size reduces the…

The Birmingham (Alabama) school district regressed from a model system in 1926 to a poorly equipped, underfunded one in 1975. In that year, however, in spite of recession and joblessness, the citizens voted a $3 million tax increase for schools. The success of the election may be traced to several factors. Citizens were concerned about the…

This paper investigates the relationship between the demand-response behavior of school boards and incumbent school board member defeat. Demand is defined as public demand as operationalized by social, economic, and political indicators (listed in Appendix A). Response is defined as school board response to public demand as operationalized by the…

This paper discusses four arguments for full State funding of schools: (1) the State is the logical and legal governmental unit to guarantee equal educational opportunity and program adequacy, (2) the State can command revenues through a variety of taxes whereby districts are generally limited to property taxes, (3) students in sparsely settled…

There exists a clearly and amply documented need for an alternative to the property tax as a means of supporting public education, and many fiscal experts have expressed themselves in favor of the municipal income tax as a recourse. This analysis attempts to demonstrate that since additional revenues are needed for local governments and an…

This report discusses the dispute in Arizona over the 1967 legislation regulating educational finance and offers alternatives to that legislation. The document describes factors and issues relevant to an understanding of the present dispute, defines accepted principles of educational finance, provides factual information about Arizona's support of…

The financing of outdoor education should be the responsibility of the school district according to the same policies that pertain to other emphases in the curriculum. However, sources of funding other than local school tax funds are state funds, Federal funds, and private funds. State funds that might be used for outdoor education programs…

This paper discusses the implications for State educational finance of the recent Serrano vs Priest decision and tries to clarify the exact meaning of the Serrano case. It notes that the use of property taxes for financing schools is not barred by the decision. Rather, the case expresses the principle of neutrality -- the level of spending for a…

This study examines changes between 1970 and 1975 in the distribution of educational resources within all the States. The analysis considers both the disparities in expenditures and the relation between these disparities and local wealth. The costs of achieving a range of equalization goals are also presented. (Author/GC)

Describes the financial plight of the Toledo schools, which have closed twice in two years, and the factors that contribute to that plight. (IRT)

Argues against John's suggestion that state equalization aid to local school districts should be based on measures of per-capita income and assessed property valuation per capita, rather than on measures of local tax revenue and assessed property valuation per pupil. (JG)

Analysis of figures nationwide indicates that local school districts have reduced their reliance on property taxes while states have increased support for schools. However, states face serious fiscal problems, and the property tax system should be reviewed in light of the need for more local support for schools. (MJL)

Some historical differences have begun to wane in recent years as the politics of education in the United States show some signs of taking on a more British'' character. At lease this is what is suggested by a review of the literature on the politics of education in Britain and the United States. (Author/CB)