Self-interested political, corporate, and education leaders have undermined recent West Virginia court decisions mandating educational reform. Three implications are: (1) principals, teachers, parents, and students must be equal partners in the educaiton reform process; (2) a constituency for rural children is needed; and (3) rural educators must…

Each of the 12 issues of this 1999 publication contains 1 or more analyses of postsecondary educational opportunities. Titles of the individual analyses are: (1) Parental Educational Attainment and Higher Educational Opportunity (number 79); (2) Refinancing Higher Education, 1952 to 1997 (number 79); (3) State Outreach Efforts to Students from Low…

This report presents an investigation of the immigrant experience in New York City public schools. In particular, it presents a statistical portrait of the resources and characteristics of the public schools attended by immigrant students, their distribution across schools, and the relationship between resources and outcomes, on the one hand, and…

This policy brief addresses the first two rulings of the North Carolina lawsuit on the state constitutional right to education, commonly referred to as "Leandro." The "Leandro" Supreme Court opinion and subsequent court rulings add a model of adequacy that dovetails almost perfectly with standards-based education reform. Model…

A study examined educational property tax burdens in Nebraska counties, using data on property taxes levied, property values, and per capita income. The study found that the average school tax burdens for residents in the lowest third (by per capita income) of Nebraska counties, which were nearly all rural farmers and ranchers, were 88 percent…

Offers a detailed discussion of school-level data collection on educational expenditures and research allocations. Describes some implications of this trend for school business administrators. Suggests that the long-term benefits of these new data far outweigh the short-term costs of their collection. (12 references) (MLF)

Argues that new high standards of curriculum content and student performance are important, but they alone are not enough. If traditional aspirations to make students wise and just are to be realized, It is necessary to move beyond standards to support teachers, provide necessary resources, nurture community, handle problems of race effectively,…

Examines research and trends related to equitable financing of rural schools, problems common to rural school districts, and an emerging "technology of individualization" that may negate any relationship between school effectiveness and school size. Commentaries discuss the value of district consolidation without school consolidation, and…

Examines the New Jersey Supreme Court school finance decisions as examples of a state court using its state constitution to spur significant social reform. Describes the political activity and cooperation among the three branches of state government in securing the New Jersey education reform initiative. (113 references) (MLF)

In England, vast amounts of energy are being spent on changing organizational structures and school financing systems to produce a market accountability on the schools. Raises a series of questions that should be considered in restructuring efforts in the United States. (MLF)

In Texas, control of schooling has shifted from the public toward business-controlled management accountability systems--exemplified in the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills ("the Texas Accountability System"). TAAS adversely affects teaching and learning by mandating a "test-prep" noncurriculum, discriminating against…

After 25 years of federal and state voucher systems in higher education, public colleges and universities find themselves financially shortchanged. Higher education vouchers (direct student aid) were developed to expand educational opportunity, give lower income students more choices, and support private colleges. Voucher systems produce greater…

Deplores the demise of progressive education and the current movement to turn schools and other public institutions over to private greed and political self-interest. Instead of blaming teachers, critics should rectify teaching/learning conditions and level the school resources playing field. It is time to construct a new curriculum forged from…

Performs empirical tests of the Mexican federal government's state-level education expenditures and examines changes in allocation patterns by comparing 1980 and 1990 cross-sections. Unlike other Latin American countries, where formulated grants are made to subnational jurisdictions, the Mexican allocation pattern seems neither rational nor…

Canadian school board administrators are increasingly expected to meet the needs of disabled or other students requiring specific types of accommodation. The duty to accommodate arises when otherwise legitimate school rules or policies affect the customs and observances of nonmajoritarian religions. (Contains 12 references.) (MLH)