During the 1980s and 1990s, state legislatures became significantly involved in developing policy that determined how and where students should be offered their K-12 education. These legislative acts have occurred most notably in the passage of revision of policy dealing with public school finance, charter schools, home schools, choice enrollment, and local board of education control. Increasingly, state legislatures are perceived to be creating more restrictions for mainstream public schools while legislating fewer restrictions for alternative schooling options. This paper examines these issues in Arkansas, Colorado, and Arizona where significant legislative policy involvement has occurred. The examination includes the changing revenue base for public schools, the increase in the number of charter schools and home schools, the increasing number of students attending charter and home schools, the expansion of choice-enrollment options, and the waning influence of local boards of education in matters of local control. The factors used in exploration of the topic were student population, public school enrollment, and per-pupil expenditures that occurred during the period 1983-97 for Arkansans, Colorado, and Arizona. Legislative involvement in the policymaking process has fundamental implications for public school districts. (Author)