This paper discusses the implications for State educational finance of the recent Serrano vs Priest decision and tries to clarify the exact meaning of the Serrano case. It notes that the use of property taxes for financing schools is not barred by the decision. Rather, the case expresses the principle of neutrality -- the level of spending for a…

This state- and national-level funding model was designed to assist community and junior college administrators, state agency officials, and officers in the executive and legislative branches of state government. The principal objectives of the model are to: (1) officially recognize post-secondary education as a public responsibility; (2) equalize…

A major responsibility of government, whether state, local or federal, is to provide educational opportunity for its citizens in accord with their abilities, motivations, and the needs of society. To achieve this goal in postsecondary education, a diversity of institutions for students to attend and the elimination of barriers to these…

PHYSICALLY AND/OR MENTALLY HANDICAPPED CHILDREN MAY NEED PLACEMENT IN BOARDING HOMES WHEN TRANSPORTATION BETWEEN CHILD'S HOME AND SCHOOL IS NOT POSSIBLE. PROVISIONS OF WISCONSIN STATUTES ARE OUTLINED. POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR ENROLLMENT IN SPECIAL CLASSES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE BUREAU FOR HANDICAPPED CHILDREN AND OTHER AGENCIES ARE LISTED.…

The author addresses three questions: (1) How did states get into the education business in the first place? (2) How significant is the states' role? (3) What are the problems that are most critical--at the state level--and what can be done about them? The author traces the slow evolution of the state role in education up to the present where that…

This booklet is designed to provide school board members, school district voters, and other interested individuals with a basic understanding of New York's system for the distribution of state aid to school districts. Although the booklet provides a fairly complete outline of New York's school finance plan, it is not a detailed technical guide to…

The Connecticut statewide plan to facilitate the implementation of career education programs at the local level is discussed. Various forms of assistance offered by the State for this purpose are presented. (EC)

Intergovernmental influences do not impact in a uniform fashion on local decisions to innovate. Such influences are often attenuated or minimized by local circumstances. (Author/IRT)

Aspects of providing such services are described, including (1) published standards; (2) outreach programs to meet specific needs of the deaf, elderly, and disadvantaged; (3) adaptation of equipment to meet special needs of the elderly; and (4) examples of programs integrated into the structure of public libraries of varying size. (MBR)

The independents have performed a historic function in establishing institutional independence, suggests this university president, and they will continue, under their independent boards, to guard the principle. They save taxpayer money and will continue to do so even though a margin of state aid is necessary. (Author/LBH)

The idea of setting aside part of the cost of public buildings for "decoration" took form in the 1930s. Discusses the current policy of commissioning decorative works as a way of building an artistic heritage for the future. (Author/RK)

Argues against John's suggestion that state equalization aid to local school districts should be based on measures of per-capita income and assessed property valuation per capita, rather than on measures of local tax revenue and assessed property valuation per pupil. (JG)

These two notes offer a couple of refinements to existing equalization plans--one deals with cost indexes, the other with fiscal incentive for dollar equalization. (Author/IRT)

Results of a nationwide study of public mental retardation/developmental disabilities spending in the states during Fiscal Years 1977 through 1986 were analyzed and identified trends such as continuing growth in spending for community services, contraction of total spending for institutional operations, and predominance of support for intermediate…