Suggested future initiatives in educational finance

Outlines school finance and reform issues to be considered for National Institute of Education planning for the School Finance and Organization Division. Within the topic of resource equity the author highlights (1) cost of education indexes, (2) weightings for educational need, (3) fixed charges and school resources equalization, (4) interaction of federal, state, and local education funds, and (5) intradistrict disparities. The second area is impact issues which includes (1) capitalization effects of school finance reform, and (2) impact of reform on student outcomes. The third area is issues of response, specifically: (1) opportunity cost of school finance reform vis a vis other municipal services, and (2) responses of school districts to reform vis a vis their marginal propensities for program expansion vs. property tax relief. The fourth area is measurement issues: (1) alternative measures of finance reform, and (2) alternative measures of district wealth. Issues warranting special emphasis: urban education, teacher collective bargaining, and cost and financing of special education.