Discusses possible future trends in educational finance following the California court decision in Serrano vs Priest. (JF)

A description of the Serrano vs. Priest class action suit in California, challenging the system of financing education through property taxes; author touches upon the possibilities for the courts becoming change agents in the struggle for social reform. (SP)

Study intends to show, "what is saved public budgets by the existence of Catholic Schools. (Author)

Discusses litigation arising from problems in financing education. Cases are treated separately and classified according to the level of government providing the financing. (Author/JF)

Promotes the argument favoring State support of schools. (LN)

This chapter reviews recent court decisions affecting the following areas of school finance: Federal and State aid, school district spending, tax levies and assessments, and bonding practices. (JH)

Two shortcomings in the implementation of guaranteed tax base or equalization formulas--limitations on state equalization aid and inaccurate portrayal of fiscal capacity--can maintain or increase financial disparities among school districts. Data on Michigan districts illustrate how inaccurate fiscal measurement expanded existing disparities…

Summarizes the findings of an Educational Testing Service study on the effectiveness of New Jersey's 1976 state reforms to equalize school taxes and to provide a "Thorough and Efficient" education. (SJL)

In the light of the uncertain benefits and the understated but escalating costs of public services, it is hardly irrational for taxpayers to attack the problem through the cost side. (Author)

Simulates effects on educational expenditures in the Boston metropolitan area of establishing a statewide tax on commercial and industrial property to finance state aid for education. Concludes that removing business property from the local tax base for education would adversely affect the pattern of educational expenditures in the Boston area.…

Recounts how the school district alienated the voters and how it won them back. (IRT)

Now that the courts have affirmed "Serrano" and specified a rigid fiscal neutrality remedy, state policymakers are confronted with numerous dilemmas and potential unintended consequences. Discusses some of the those policy dilemmas and how school finance systems need to be overhauled. (Author/RK)

The combined effect of the "Serrano" decision and Proposition 13 left California school districts with aging, overcrowded facilities. Chico schools won a $18.5 million general obligation bond election for facilities construction. With $11 billion needed for new school construction, California will need to tap local sources. A sidebar…

According to the 21st annual Gallup/Phi Delta Kappa poll, the public favors school choice, a more standardized national curriculum, improvement of public school quality in poorer and innercity areas, reduction of class size in early grades, afternoon school and summer programs for children of working parents, and increased state and federal…

Finds that school property taxes have been substantially reduced under the new Michigan school finance system and have been replaced with new state revenues, although it is uncertain whether these new state dollars will be available in a recession. Finds that substantial disparities remain between Michigan school districts in revenues and…