Deck 13: School Finance

Question 1

Which of the following statements are accurate?

A) The state has the inherent power to levy taxes on its citizens to support public education.
B) The U.S. Constitution imposes an affirmative duty to the states to control public schools.
C) State support of public schools is not a voluntary act.
D) The Federal government not required to provide assistance to education.

Answer 1

The state has the inherent power to levy taxes on its citizens to support public education.

Question 2

School and local tax constitute:

A) 75% of educational expenditures
B) 80% of educational expenditures
C) 90% of educational expenditures
D) 70% of educational expenditures

Answer 2

90% of educational expenditures

Question 3

The primary sources of state funding for education are:

A) Property tax
B) Use tax
C) Income and sales tax
D) None of the above

Answer 3

Income and sales tax

Question 4

Property taxes are classified as:

A) Value added
B) Real and Personal Property
C) Ad Valorem tax
D) None of the above

Question 5

Property taxes are typically calculated in mills. A mill is:

A) ½ of one cent
B) 1/3 of one cent
C) 1/10 of one cent
D) one cent

Question 6

The only state that has state-wide funding for education is:

A) Arizona
B) Alaska
C) Hawaii
D) Washington

Question 7

School districts possess:

A) Broad powers to control education
B) Limited authority as agents of the state
C) Taxing authority
D) Emergency taxing authority

Question 8

Tax rates are generally based on estimated revenue needed by the district to meet its financial needs. These projections must be:

A) Realistic
B) Made in good faith
C) Needed to meet unexpected needs
D) All but C

Question 9

Many states generate funding formulas that subsidize local efforts. These formulas are used to:

A) Compensate for disparities among wealth and less wealthy districts
B) Ensure that wealthy districts are not penalized
C) Ensure that less wealthy districts have power
D) Ensure that citizens are taxed at a rate that supports education

Question 10

State driven equity formulas are:

A) Equal opportunity based
B) Input based
C) Income neutral
D) All of the above

Question 11

State based adequacy funding focuses on:

A) Minimal levels of funding needed for every school to teach it students
B) Fairness
C) Equal access
D) Excellence in education

Question 12

School finance programs have been challenged under federal and state constitutions. These challenges have centered around:

A) Claims that tax systems are unfair and do not apply equally to all tax payers
B) Assertions that the rich get richer
C) Violation of parents' Fifth amendment rights
D) Violation of children's property right to attend public schools

Question 13

Most legal challenges regarding public school funding are addressed through:

A) Circuit courts of appeal
B) The U.S. Supreme Court
C) State courts
D) Municipal courts

Question 14

The following court recognized that education was a "fundamental" interest:

A) Independent School District v. Rodriquez
B) Serano v. Priest
C) Robinson v. Cahill
D) Abott v. Burke

Question 15

The following court held that education is not a fundamental right under the U.S. Constitution:

A) San Antonio Independent School District v. Rodriguez
B) Williams v. California
C) Edgewood Independent School et. al. v. Kirby
D) CFE v. State of New York

Question 16

The state may or may not possess the power to levy tax on its citizens to support public education. (It does possess.)

Question 17

Under the U.S. Constitution, states are obligated to establish and maintain a system of public schools. (The Constitution places no obligation on states.)

Question 18

State constitutions generally authorize the legislature to provide for a public education system.

Question 19

The Federal Government may, based on Article 11, Section 8 of the General Welfare Clause, support various educational initiatives. (Article I Section 8.)

Question 20

School districts as agents of the state, are created by legislatures to provide educational opportunities for public school students within the state.

Question 21

The legislature, at its discretion, may delegate taxing authority to local school districts.

Question 22

Sales taxes and use taxes are the primary source of state funding.

Question 23

Taxing authorities cannot be delegated to subordinate bodies absent clear limitations or restructuring placed on the delegated power.

Question 24

Estimated tax revenue projections should be realistic, made in good faith and based on defensible grounds.

Question 25

In Serrano v. Priest, the California court ruled that education was not a constitutionally protected fundamental interest. (The court held that education was a constitutionally protected fundamental interest.)

Question 26

In Serrano, wealth was considered to be a "suspect classification."

Question 27

In Rodriquez v. San Antonio, the court held that federal courts were not the appropriate venue to hear finance cases. Furthermore, such cases should be addressed by state courts since education is a state function. The lawsuit resulted in cases being filed in state courts but this issue was not specifically addressed by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Question 28

Discuss the Serrano decision and its implications for state funding programs.

Question 29

Discuss the U.S. Supreme Court's view in Rodriquez regarding the issue of suspect classification. What are the implications of this decision on school funding programs?

Question 30

Discuss the U.S. Supreme Court's rationale for not classifying education as a fundamental right.
a. Do you agree with the court's view regarding this issue? If so, why. If not, why not.
b. Did the Rodriquez decision have an adverse impact on equity in public school funding? If so, why? If not, why not. (Please be clear and precise in your response.)

Question 31

Discuss educational quality as influenced by teacher quality and adequacy of instructional/educational materials.
a. Why is the issue of educational quality so difficult for courts to address in cases involving educational funding programs?
b. Is there a more viable alternative that plaintiffs may pursue as they challenge the adequacy of school funding programs? (Please be specific.)

Question 32

Why are the courts evenly divided in challenges to state funding programs?
a. What are the implications of divided courts on such an important issue as adequate funding for public schools?
b. What do you believe to be a viable solution to consistent challenges of state funding programs for public schools?

Question 33

The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) mandates that public schools eliminate achievement gaps among groups of students, particularly minority and deprived students.
a. Do you feel that this should be the role of the federal government since education is a state function? If so, why? If not, why not?
b. Do you feel that the NCLB Act will achieve its goal of raising the educational achievement level of all students?
i. What are the issues that may create obstacles regarding this goal?
ii. What do you view as the solution to ensuring that educational levels are raised and the achievement gap is closed among all students?

Question 34

Discuss the movement from equity to adequacy.
a. What factors have influenced this movement?
b. What is the essential difference in focus regarding equity and adequacy?
c. What are your views regarding the viability of each concept?