Twenty years ago, a report by the National Commission on Teaching and America's Future (NCTAF) changed the national discussion about what must be done to improve America's schools so that all students experience success. The Commission drew attention to the overlooked fact that the most important school variable affecting student achievement is…

This document presents the results of a Forum study of local financial support of schools. The primary objective was to devise a yardstick to measure the local effort in a way useful to both citizens and policymakers. Data on property wealth for each of the 140 local school systems in North Carolina were developed. School systems making the…

This paper uses data from a large statewide survey of Massachusetts residents to measure support for Proposition 2 1/2. Proposition 2 1/2 required high tax rate communities to reduce property tax levies 15 percent per year until the tax rate is reduced to the maximum allowable rate of 2 1/2 percent of full and fair market value. Specifically, this…

Maryland community colleges receive financial support from both the state and their local jurisdiction, as well as from student charges and other income from operations and investments. The proportion of local aid varies considerably across jurisdictions. A study was conducted at Prince George's Community College (PGCC) to measure local support…

This paper uses data obtained by a large statewide survey of Massachusetts residents to measure the relative importance of certain motivations in influencing the overall statewide vote on Proposition 2 1/2. Proposition 2 1/2 severely restricts the ability of Massachusetts cities and towns to raise tax revenue for local services. Interviews were…