A number of educational finance proposals suggest that the State become the primary collector and dispenser of revenue to support public education. Under such proposals the State would become, in effect, the employer for collective bargaining purposes. Accordingly, this paper deals with representation issues, the scope of bargaining, and problems…

The Laverne Proposal on Regionalism in Education is aimed at developing a system of public education (including the financing of education) in New York State that would be responsive to the needs of all the State's children. This document presents the Laverne Proposal and compares it with several others. The Proposal recommends the adoption of a…

The clear and unavoidable conclusion is that achieving equality is less important than maintaining inequality. Class inequality by school district is highly valued in American education. Unequal taxes will continue to finance unequal schools. That is how we finance schools in America. (Author)

A refutation of an article published by the Yale Law Journal which reported a study of school finance arrangements in Connecticut and influenced the "Rodiguez" decision. Weaknesses in the statistical arguments and theoretical analysis of that piece are discussed as the need for accepting some type of "Serrano" reform is…

Eight critical issues relevant to Kansas school finance are discussed in this report; issues include recent school finance litigation, assessment of the School District Equalization Act (SDEA), recommendations for improving the SDEA, validity of the power equalization models, measures of local district funding ability, mechanisms used by other…

This report discusses what constitutes an adequate education in the state of Washington. It focuses on the Washington Quality Education Model (WQEM)--a new program created to define the vision of quality education--as well as the elements and indicators that constitute such an education. The goal of the program is to determine the kinds of staff,…

Discusses the relationship of the Equal Protection Clause to the underlying premises of State educational finance decisions: (1) the Equal Protection Clause and local government generally, (2) the Equal Protection Clause and geographical classifications, (3) the Equal Protection Clause and geographical classifications of services or benefits, (4)…

The position is presented that state funding of public education would provide greater equality in the allocation of educational resources within each state; provide a broader, more reliable, and expansive revenue base; and revitalize local influence in educational policy. (Author/CTM)

The position is presented that local property taxes provide a stable source of income during periods of economic downturn and that state taxes and disbursements for education are less likely to receive popular support. (CTM)

Florida voters have authorized two constitutionally guaranteed sources of revenue to fund the capital outlay needs of the state system of public education. These sources are motor vehicle license fees and gross receipts taxes. (Author)

The Education Improvement Act (EIA) was passed in Tennessee in 1992. It established the Basic Education Program (BEP) as the funding formula used to provide adequate, equitable, and sustainable school funding. The 1997 master plan is consistent with the national Goals 2000 legislation and addresses each of the eight national goals. The plan…

Education finance and administration have been studied on the premise that the technical attributes of superior financial allocation schemes can indeed be identified. Given that they can, it follows that it should be possible to discern refinements that, once adopted, would enhance the practical functions of the allocation scheme. In this paper,…

This article examines the divergent alternatives to achieving school finance reform. The Social Equity and Political Economy approaches are emphasized to achieve non wealth discrimination between school districts. (DE)

This article examines how legal arguments advocating school finance reform do not provide an adequate basis for dealing with practical problems of implementing such policies. Guidelines for reform of fiscal policy are suggested. (DE)

Principles for public school finance are outlined with respect to an equitable allocation of educational resources by the state. The argument is advanced that equal dollars per pupil is a practical, reasonable, acceptable and attainable initial basis for school financing. Objections to the equal dollars scheme are considered, leading to an…