On March 22, 1993, the Tennessee Supreme Court found the method used by the state to fund local school districts to be unconstitutional. This finding culminated litigation filed by 77 mostly small, rural school districts known as the Tennessee Small School Systems (TSSS), claiming that the state's system of funding education was inequitable and…

Reviews the general provisions of the sex discrimination section of the Education Act of 1972 (Title IX) as they pertain to the funding of women's athletics and describes the phases by which the Florida comparability plan equalizes the cost of athletic programs for male and female athletes. (JW)

This statistical analysis of funding equalization from 1970 to 1981 evaluates the distributional equity achieved by Florida's school finance plan and examines the relationship between selected per pupil revenue measures and variables thought to influence school district spending, concluding that greater equity has not been attained. (MJL)

This statistical analysis of the equity and efficiency of New York's complex school finance system concludes that legislation since 1975 has neither significantly reduced wide disparities in local spending nor weakened the link between wealth and expenditure because the system cannot be improved without a substantial funding increase. (MJL)

Summarizes 16 state court decisions in 15 states concerning equity in statewide school finance systems, in the aftermath of the Supreme Court's San Antonio Independent School District v. Rodriguez" decision. Finds that some state legislatures and courts reformed their finance systems, while others let inequalities continue. (RW)

Although the mission of public education to achieve the goals of a democratic society has not been accomplished, currently-proposed drastic changes in the funding for public schools could bring about private education for the wealthy and welfare schooling for the rest. This would further stratify American society and emphasize socioeconomic and…

Assesses effects of the financial reform of China's basic education system, focusing on issues of structure, resource mobilization, equality, and efficiency. While decentralized funding reforms have succeeded in achieving structural change and resource mobilization, the current system is marked by glaring inequalities and significant…

A Paterson (New Jersey) teacher criticizes well-meaning prescriptions for educating students for a civil society. Reforms based on skills-based instruction and test-driven assessment are failing. Inequality is the core issue. Schools cannot compensate for class and racial inequalities, particularly if inequitable funding mechanisms persist.…

Although the Oregon Legislature has succeeded in creating a funding formula that equalizes per pupil spending, it is struggling with budgetary inadequacies. There is no dedicated funding source for schools, voters have enacted further property-tax limitations, and some schools have had to cut programs and staff every year. Nevertheless, Oregon's…

A state-subsidized system allowing low-income families to choose private schooling could fulfill the nation's democratic aspirations. All parents would be empowered to make the kinds of choices enjoyed by wealthier families. The quality and efficiency of education could then approach the levels achieved by other nations. Includes four references.…

Superintendents of urban school districts are confronted by large classes; shortages of qualified staff, materials, and supplies; and inequitable funding. Despite their superintendent's herculean efforts to build strong community support, the Baltimore schools have the lowest per pupil expenditure among Maryland's largest school systems. (MLH)

Discusses findings reported in a recent National Assessment of Educational Progress report ("Computer Competence: the First Assessment") focusing on four fundamental concerns: student attitudes toward computer use, failure to integrate computers into subject disciplines, the importance of computer access at home and at school, and…

The implementation of the Carl D. Perkins Vocational Education Act is likely to differ across state and localities, depending on history, previous support for vocational education, organizational patterns, size, and available resources. This paper discusses variables affecting implementation of the Perkins Act in Pennsylvania. Includes five…

Uses a typical Lorenz-curve framework to measure inequality of resource allocation in South African education. Although improvements have been achieved over the past two decades, substantial inequalities remain. The current distribution of educational resources is much more unequal than that for developed countries but not as inequitable as that…

Survey of 500 teachers of sexuality education in New Jersey shows differences between richer and poorer districts. Teachers in rich districts get more parental support and have greater access to training, colleagues, curricular guidance, instructional materials. Sexuality education is more likely to be required and is taken by more students.…