Examines the effects of including technology funding in Oklahoma school district bond issues on their voting percentages and pass/fail rates during fiscal years 1995-96 through 1999-2000. Finds that percent of technology funding included in bond issue dollar amount was significantly related to positive voting percentages and predictive of issue…

Analyzes impact of court-mandated school-finance reform in New Jersey. Finds, for example, that while the state's poorest urban districts have benefited from the reform efforts, systematic inequities inherent in the state's system of school funding have not been addressed. (Contains 21 references.) (PKP)

Using data from Texas and Wisconsin to estimate cost functions for elementary and secondary education, examines whether the structure of certain cost-function relationships is different in rural versus nonrural school districts. Finds that although cost structures are similar, factors such as small schools and large percentages of economically…

Begins with a discussion of cost and efficiency in education. Presents an empirical model to estimate school-level economies of scale. Applies model to expenditure data set by school from 17 Wyoming school districts. Finds that it costs more per student in a small school than in large schools to achieve similar educational outcomes, thus…

Examines the fungibility of lottery revenues for the support of public education using data from all 50 states. Finds that increases in lottery revenues are fungible, thus negatively impacting support for public education in all states regardless of wealth, population, debt, or tax burden. (Contains 15 references.) (PKP)

Overview of research on human capital, including the concept, history of studies, education as a form of human capital, issues and caveats, and role in growth theory. Concludes with current focus on human capital research. (Contains 56 references.) (Author/PKP)

Defines professional development and its key components; reviews previous research on professional development costs; examines problems with current fiscal accounting codes; proposes a framework for capturing professional development costs composed of six elements: teacher time; training and coaching; administration; materials, equipment, and…

Examines how three urban elementary schools could reallocate existing resources to adopt one or more New American Schools whole-school-reform designs. Concludes that all three schools possess the funds necessary to adopt two designs: Modern Red Schoolhouse and Success for All/Roots and Wings. (Contains 36 references.) (PKP)

Models three-stage bond-rating process: whether to have a bond rated, whether to insure the bond, and estimation of the actual bond rating; tests multistage model empirically using sample of 148 bond issues representing 10 different states; finds that the par value (size) of the bond issue is decisive factor in decision to have a bond rated or…

Analysis of New York Supreme Court's interpretation of economics of education literature in its 2001 decision in "Campaign for Fiscal Equity v. The State of New York." Includes educational outcomes, educational inputs, and the efficient use of teacher inputs. Discusses the cost-effectiveness of court reform of education compared with…

Uses a foundation-equalizing model to develop a number of indicators measuring the extent to which states utilize the full range of equalization tools at its disposal. Illustrates the utility of these indicators through an evaluation of the school finance reform instituted by Rhode Island between 1992 and 1996. (Contains 25 references.)…

Draws on research measuring the impact of economic, demographic, and political variables on state and local education spending to examine the determinates of state spending patterns for education. Findings confirm the importance of the median voter in setting state funding priorities. Also finds political context and interest groups have…

Analyzes measure of professional development expenditures by U.S. school districts using three panels of data from the Census Bureau. Finds that districts devote approximately 3 percent of total general expenditures to professional development, which equates to approximately 200 dollars per pupil. Findings reflect a fairly flat trend in new…

Discusses need for reinventing state education finance systems to provide adequacy and equity aligned to standards-based reform. Provides initial specifications for "The New Finance." Examines in depth approaches for determining a base spending level considered adequate for the average child to reach high educational standards. (Contains…

Extensive review of the research literature on the impact of school finance litigation on finance reform. Classifies 200 studies reviewed into four groups: general literature, single-state studies, multi-state studies, and direct litigation-effect studies. Concludes that litigation contributed to higher levels of school funding. (Contains 113…