Issues of finance undergird all education policy decisions, and demographic changes have clear financial impact. This edited volume outlines demographic trends, focuses on minority and other special student populations in urban and rural settings, and relates the findings to policies. Contained in the book are the following papers: (1) "The Power of Demographic Change: Impact of Population Trends on Schools" (James Gordon Ward); (2) "Diversity in Urban Schools" (James G. Cibulka); (3) "Youth Migration from Rural Areas" (Emil J. Haller and David H. Monk); (4) "Economic and Demographic Dimensions of National Education Policy" (Deborah Verstegen); (5) "Special Needs Students: A Generation at Risk" (David C. Thompson); (6) "Rising Hispanic Enrollments: A New Challenge for Public Schools" (Concetta Raimondi Hyland); (7) "Cultural Diversity and Political Turmoil: The Case of School Finance in Texas" (William E. Sparkman and Trudy A. Campbell); (8) "Rapid Growth and Unfulfilled Expectations: Problems for School Finance in Florida" (R. Craig Wood and David S. Honeyman); (9) "Demography, Diversity, and Dollars: Rethinking School Finance Policy in California" (Julia E. Koppich); (10) "Population Shifts and Policy Changes: Effects on School Funding in Illinois" (G. Alfred Hess, Jr.) (11) "Tipping the Scales from Inequality to Inequity" (William Edward Eaton); and (12) "Schools and the Struggle for Democracy: Themes for School Finance Policy" (James Gordon Ward). References follow each chapter. The appendix lists the American Education Finance Association Board of Directors, 1991-92. An index is appended. (MLF)