Vermont's Act 60 received national attention not only because of the controversy surrounding the sharing pool (or recapture provision) but also because of its "potential for being the most equitable system in the country." For fiscal years 1998 to 2001, tax rates have become more equitable, and a direct relationship has appeared between…

The need for an adequate financial base for the future of quality early care and education (ECE) for young children is being increasingly recognized. This document compiles four papers commissioned to frame the discussion at a 1999 working meeting of individuals from diverse fields to identify and explore possible actions related to financing ECE…

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)

Describes model, data, results, and implications of a study attempting to clarify two issues previously overlooked in studies of financing public education with local property taxes: (1) that regionally aggregated data may bias test results, and (2) that local fiscal response to grant programs may vary with the wealth of school districts. (SB)

Describes four major tax acts which significantly impact businesses and individual taxpayers. Includes important issues affecting businesses, such as changes in minimum wage, depreciable personal property, pensions, and tax credits. Also describes important issues affecting individuals, including changes in spousal IRAs, adoption expense credits,…

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…

This document presents text and graphs to provide a broad overview of financing for public higher education in Texas. Texas public institutions of higher education include more than 140 campuses with a total of $9.9 billion in appropriated funds for 1996-97. Universities receive $2,810,346,704 in general revenues for 35 institutions, and…

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…

State education agency personnel in 48 states were surveyed regarding current financing practices that would positively affect small school districts. One-half of the states were found to currently provide some type of additional operating revenue to small schools or school districts through pupil weighting, identification as geographically…

The role of equity in determining how higher education should be supported is considered, along with several approaches for measuring benefits and costs of public subsidies, and conclusions from the literature. Attention is directed to equity in financing higher education because higher education is often advocated as a mechanism for providing…

Soaring values of agricultural land have created inequities in funding between urban and rural school districts in Minnesota. The state's Foundation Aid to school districts is formulated so that districts of high property valuation receive less Foundation Aid than those districts with low property valuation. In recent years inflation has had…

The Performance Funding Project of the State of Tennessee is discussed. The Project was instituted to explore the question of whether it is desirable and possible to allocate some portion of state funds to community colleges and universities on a performance effectiveness criterion rather than the current credit hour and enrollment criteria. Major…

THE BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA, PLAN FOR DESEGREGATING THE CITY'S ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IS REVIEWED IN THIS REPORT. THE PLAN DEALS WITH SCHOOL DISTRICT ORGANIZATION, INSTRUCTIONAL NEEDS AND CHANGE, TRANSPORTATION, AND FINANCING REQUIREMENTS. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THE CITY HAVE FOUR EXPANDED ATTENDANCE ZONES, EACH CONTAINING ONE SCHOOL WITH GRADES ONE…

In order to analyze the California system of community college finance within a national context, a review of recent literature was followed by an intensive study and survey of eight states, chosen to illustrate alternative solutions to California financing problems. National trends among community colleges that emerged included (1) the…