State litigation involving unconstitutional school financing systems are described in this document, which focuses on efforts in Texas to reform the financing of public education. Since its school finance system was declared unconstitutional in 1987, two subsequent proposals have been struck down by the Texas Supreme Court for the following…

This report describes inequities in the current school-funding process for the Auburn Enlarged City School District. Data were analyzed from two studies that compared the Auburn district to 10 other New York districts with similar enrollments or full value. Findings indicate that wide disparities exist among the districts with regard to…

This report describes findings of a study conducted by the Auburn Enlarged City School District that examined the ability of New York school districts to pay for their students' educational needs. The methodology used involved an economic comparison of the largest 80 New York school districts selected on the basis of enrollment and an analysis of…

This paper traces the historical development of New York State Small City School District (SCSD) school budget voting policy. State policymakers are currently debating whether to change from representative to referendum school budget voting in SCSDs. Following a historical analysis of the current debate, the argument is made that there no longer…

The Public Law (PL) 81-874 Impact Aid Program (IAP), first authorized in 1950, was originally designed to provide financial relief to local education agencies (LEAs) that had been impacted by the expanded activities of the armed forces and other federal activities. This document describes the expansion of military activities at Fort Drum, New…

Findings from a study that determined the degree of difference that exists in educational expenditures per pupil in Pennsylvania public school districts are presented. Specifically, the study compared districts with the highest and lowest expenditures and suburban with urban districts on the basis of expenditures, enrollment, revenue, wealth,…

Reviewing literature on educational finance and law, this paper analyzes the rationale for the recent school finance reform movement and recounts the movement's progress from 1965 to 1979. An overview of the problem discusses state equalization programs' ability to provide financial equity and the relationship of financial equity to equal…

To help Ohio's educators, legislators, and others understand school finance reforms and equalization plans, this manual provides an overview of the state's public elementary and secondary school financing and explores issues and options in educational finance. An introductory chapter traces the legal history of school finance reform, explaining…

Part of a series on state educational finance, this manual aims to help Connecticut educators, legislators, and citizens understand school finance reforms by giving them an overview of Connecticut's public elementary and secondary school financing plan and by exploring selected issues in financial equity in education. An introductory chapter…

The fiscal patterns of individual states during the 1977-78 and 1978-79 school years are described in this report. The data include the types and relative importance of state and local revenue sources, measures of total expenditure levels and tax burdens, and data particular to educational finance at the elementary and secondary levels. The…

This report addresses a variety of questions about inequalities in school finance, and answers them by applying a broad range of statistical techniques to a comprehensive set of data on California school districts. Census data by school district was drawn from the 1970 U.S. Census, while information on school district finance for 1971-72 was…

This report describes property tax revenues and assessment rates for all 50 States during 1966. The following information is summarized by State and by class of property: (1) The total valuation and the taxable valuation of property subject to local general property taxation and the percent distribution of total valuation by class of property; (2)…

Reviews major issues surrounding funding of Nebraska's public schools and presents an alternative funding system sustaining the goals of local control, tax equity, and flexibility for program quality. The new formula would add an economic factor to the weighting of pupils and alow local tax flexibility for districts losing state funding. (MLH)

Prospects for financing educational reform in West Virginia are grim. Added to the state's high unemployment rate are the following problems: declining sales, income, and property tax revenues and erosion of federal support due to Gramm-Rudman-Hollings. Residents have set other priorities for public funding. Includes five references. (MLH)

Although schooling in Australia has been traditionally the responsibility of the states, increased specific grant funding, based on fiscal performance equalization, has led to a more active role for the Australian federal government in influencing education outcomes. A possible consequence is a loss in diversity of the educational system.(TE)