This report provides background information for discussion of major higher education finance issues and options. Terminology for comparing funding methods for public higher education across states is introduced. An overview of the evolution of the objectives of funding methods over time is provided, and detailed profiles of the major…

Alaska's Public School Foundation Program, based on an instructional unit funding formula, enables the state to meet fiscal equalization criteria outlined in the federal PL 81-874 law (the disparity test). Alaska must meet the guidelines to utilize approximately $44 million in PL 81-874 funds within the state foundation plan as general revenues.…

In 1983 the California Legislature passed Senate Bill 813, which appropriated an additional one billion dollars yearly for each of 4 years to the schools. Most of the additional money was distributed through the state's general aid formula. However, a portion of the money was offered through eight other new programs designed to encourage specific…

The General Accounting Office assessed the likely impact of replacing personal income with the Representative Tax System (RTS) on the distribution of federal aid among the states in three formula-based programs. These programs were the General Fiscal Assistance Act of 1972, known as the Revenue Sharing program; Title XIX of the Social Security…

Developed by Radford University to overcome the inadequacies of an acquisition allocation system based on faculty demand, this updated allocation formula considers factors of undergraduate credit person hours, number of declared undergraduate majors, graduate credit person hours, number of graduate majors, average cost weighting, importance of…

This report presents the findings and recommendations of a study of New Mexico's financing of education. A task force, created in 1995 by the state legislature, was charged with reviewing public school funding for the purpose of introducing legislation to reform the system. For the study, hired consultants reviewed historical documents, held…

The purpose of this study was to determine if the cost structure of small schools located in large Wyoming school districts differed from the cost structure of small schools located in small districts across the state, and if a difference was found to recommend possible changes to the small school adjustment in the Wyoming school funding model.…

Some groups that are pressing for changes in the state's school funding system represent the interests of a small number of school districts that see themselves as somehow "unfairly" impacted by the state's recapture provisions. Recapture is the part of the funding system that re-allocates state resources that are concentrated in a small number of…

A study of the Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants program in the 1980-81 award period revealed that the state allotment formula produces a distribution of funds that undermines, rather than supports, the SEOG program's statutory purpose of delivering funds to needy students. (MLW)

This article provides an overview of state finance polices for gifted education and frameworks for evaluating those policies. The frameworks are then applied for evaluating state school finance policies as of 1998-99 and state aid allocated in 2002. Only Florida provided both sufficient and equitable support for gifted education. (Contains…

Argues that colleges and universities need to develop new sources of funding if they are to sustain viable programs of student services. Looks at traditional funding, fees for service, mandatory fees, voluntary fees, and funding for the future. Funding and the use of available funds will dominate the student affairs agenda. (RJM)

Through finance reform, Michigan cut property taxes for school operations nearly 50% and exchanged a district power-equalizing approach to a foundation-allowance program. After three years, there are still strong connections between property wealth and district revenue. However, Michigan has made progress toward equal financial resources for the…

During the 1995-96 school year, Arizona charter schools served over 7,117 students and received over $30 million in funding. An estimated 17,000 students will be served next year. The funding formula is similar to the basic state formula for K-12 education, with similar counting methods and revenue availability. However, charter schools have more…

Discusses the education financing system approved by the Kentucky legislature following the 1989 Kentucky Supreme Court decision striking down the previous educational financing system. The overall structure of the new system is basically sound. The allocation formula is comparatively simple and should permit both equitable administration and a…

Discusses issues related to formula funding and budgeting in higher education, in general, and in academic libraries, specifically. The strengths and weaknesses of state funding formulas and academic library budgeting formulas are evaluated, based on a survey of libraries in eight states. The role of coordinating agencies and structures is also…