These papers are based on a 2002 seminar that examined the book "Brown v. Board of Education: A Civil Rights Milestone and Its Troubled Legacy" (James T. Patterson). "The Troubled Legacy of Brown v. Board" (James T. Patterson) highlights the impact of the case on the civil rights movement and school integration or desegregation and educational quality, asserting ambivalence about the role of Brown v. Board of Education. "The Importance of Brown v. Board" (Roger Wilkins) suggests that the case changed the expectations of black Americans in ways that ultimately had profound consequences for the nation. "Measuring the Impact of Brown v. Board" (Douglas S. Reed) maintains that the levels of racial oppression and racial conflict were altered by the decision, though it did not create a more equal educational system. "State Courts and Educational Finance" (Douglas S. Reed) discusses the trajectory from school desegregation lawsuits to school finance lawsuits, suggesting that school finance suits generally make a difference. "Electoral Politics and School Finance Reform" (Jeffrey Henig) examines the state electoral considerations that affect educational equity. "Educational Equity and the President's Initiative on Race" (Judith A. Winston) notes the presidency's limits in addressing the problem. An appendix presents significant state Supreme Court rulings that have struck down or upheld the existing school finance system. (SM)