THANKS! Bringing together detailed information on this topic could not have been done without the help of many individuals. Of special assistance were: Meg Armstrong, Federal Liaison Assistant in the Utah State Planning Coordinators Office; Dick Merritt of the National Legislative Conference; Terry Smith of the Council of State Governments; Senator E. H. Dean and the Office of the Legislative Analyst in Utah; and the many staff people in the various states that supplied the Education Commission of the States with information. THE STATES and EDUCATION FINANCE A 1972 OVERVIEW A report of The National Governors' Conference Committee on Executive Management and Fiscal Affairs ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Since August 1971, educational finance has been an issue of increasing and intense interest to public officials at all levels of government. This is because state and federal court decisions have invalidated the education finance schemes of five states, and similar suits in thirty other states have highlighted the need for dramatic - action in this most important area of state responsibility. These decisions and the debate they have generated have underscored the complexity of the issue. As public officials search for solutions to the education finance dilemma, they are deluged with a wide array of information from many sources. This report, prepared for the National Governors' Conference Committee on Executive Management and Fiscal Affairs, provides a broad overview of the problems and opportunities surrounding the education finance issue. The basic report was prepared by the Education Commission of the States. It provides an essential review of the complex issues which confront us as we seek equal educational opportunity for the children of our states. It was reviewed and slightly modified by members of the National Governors' Conference Staff and the Executive Management and Fiscal Affairs Committee advisory task force. Particular acknowledgement is tendered to Dr. Wendell H. Pierce, Executive Director, Education Commission of the States and Mr. Clifford L. Dochterman of the ECS Staff for his efforts in preparing the report. In addition, the Committee wishes to acknowledge Mr. John K. Hickey, Director of Legal and Judicial Administration, Council of State Governments, for his work in preparing a legal analysis of the educational finance cases. Calvin L. Rampton |