Describes how Rampano College preserved and redesigned its student affairs programs and services while being forced to manage statewide cutbacks in overall funding. Discusses how the Division of Student Affairs agreed upon concrete principles on how to best use resources and services, thereby meeting the challenges of the fiscal crisis while also…

Drawn from a larger paper on geographical isolation, these pages present a review of literature pertaining to geographical isolation factors. The inclusion of a geographical isolation factor in a state's distribution formula for foundation aid is a mechanism for providing additional revenue to small schools or school districts that, because of…

This paper examines the impact on higher education of funding shortfalls that are due to significant reductions of college budgets by state legislatures and that result in trimming of services and laying off of employees. First, an overview of national trends and statistics describes retrenchment as a key institutional response. A look at some…

The State of Alaska spends 75% of its operating revenues on transfer payments to individuals and local governments and on salaries and benefits of state workers. By the year 2000, dwindling petroleum revenues will result in a projected $1 billion gap between state income and spending, but inflation and growing population could widen that gap to…

Vermont is the only state that does not require a balanced budget every fiscal year. Facing state budget shortfalls, many states were left with no choice but to examine possible cuts or at least flat levels of funding for schools. States are also facing costs with implementing new federal mandates under the No Child Left Behind Act. Additional…

The concept of municipal overburden refers to the relationship between municipalities' educational funding and the fiscal stress generated by their heavy expenditures on both educational and noneducational services. The authors examine three aspects of the problem of municlpal overburden. First, in a literature review, they discuss the measurement…

With state budgets in disarray, school districts are taking a hard look at cuts and possible reforms. At the state level the issue is the complex ways states fund public schools. Finding a better way to link dollars to academic performance includes simplifying school finance and equalizing funds to provide adequate education. (MLF)

Student financial aid programs currently play a key role in general governmental support for postsecondary education, and this role is likely to increase in the future. The potential future impact of financial aid on institutions is discussed, with a consideration of program admnistration and alternative delivery mechanisms. (Author/JMD)

Cites six documents from the ERIC junior college collection that deal with financing community service programs. (AYC)

While the elite private colleges may survive the enrollment declines of the 1980's and 1990's, the less elite, so-called invisible private colleges may have more difficulty. Finance, enrollment, and competition are the three major elements seen to threaten these institutions' futures. They face an uncertain financial future since historically they…

Research on intra-district inequalities is necessary for determining if changes in state financing formulas have affected inequitable distributions of educational resources within school districts and between classrooms in individual schools. Material inequalities in per pupil expenditures based on race were outlawed by the Hobsen vs Hansen court…

Historical developments and current trends affecting American higher education are discussed, along with government and college reactions to problems. A review of the literature covers: retrenchment, the federal role in the past, the role of the states, the private sector, population declines, inflation and unemployment, a loss of confidence in…

This four-part report examines the management of retrenchment at six representative Southern California community colleges and two community college districts: Victor Valley College, Mount San Jacinto College, Citrus College, Chaffey College, Mount San Antonio College, Riverside City College, the San Bernardino Community College District, and the…

This research report ordered by the California Senate analyzes problems and possible solutions to postsecondary education finance in that state. A first section explores the background to the issues and concludes that higher education should be a top priority of the state government now and in the future. A second section examines the problem of…

This document analyzes the highlights of school finance litigation, including early attempts at convincing the U.S. Supreme Court to declare education as a fundamental right guaranteed by the U.S. constitution, and recent arguments that have shifted the responsibility for delivering education entirely to the states. Cases described include: (1)…