The State Of The States Educational Enterprise

This book presents a brief description and analysis of the activity of State governments in making educational policy during the past two years. The following three trends are cited as important in the States' increased role: (1) increased State spending on education relative to Federal and local spending; (2) court ordered school finance reform which has led to equalization of spending between districts; and (3) State legislative interest due to the increased spending and a realization of the importance of education to economic growth and social progress. Following an introduction, section two of the book reviews the context for State reforms and discusses the improved professionalism of State governments, the States' interest in educational quality, and the growing perception that high quality education is necessary to ensure economic competitiveness. The third section briefly reviews the States' recent efforts to improve the quality of education, describing the range of new initiatives and summarizing several leading examples of major reforms. The topics covered include teachers, the academic experience, financial support, education organization and structure, and Federal initiatives. The fourth section examines a series of long- and short-range concerns that will have a major impact on the ultimate success or failure of the State efforts to improve the schools, and a final section provides some concluding observations. (CG)