The Impact of Public Act 79-128, an Act Concerning Equalization of Educational Financing and Equity in Educational Opportunity, Upon Connecticut Secondary Schools Serving Rural Communities
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Authors
De John, Lawrence A.
Issue Date
1987-02
Type
Thesis
Language
en_US
Keywords
Connecticut law , Educational law , Education , Educational services , Economy
Alternative Title
Abstract
This study investigated the impact of Connecticut Public Act 79-128 "An Act Concerning Equalization of Educational Financing and Equity in Education Opportunity", aimed at providing equal opportunity for suitable educational experiences to all Connecticut public school students regardless of place of residence. The study addressed the impact of the Guaranteed Tax Base plan on secondary schools in rural Connecticut communities during fiscal years 1979 and 1983, the last year before implementation and the fourth year of a scheduled five year phase-in of the GTB plan. It was hoped the investigation would demonstrate the efficacy of Public Act 79-128 in helping poor rural communities provide a level of educational services as suitable as wealthier counterparts. The study sample consisted of four secondary schools reflecting seven high fiscal ability communities and six secondary schools representing ten low fiscal ability communities. Nine variables were selected to determine if any significant changes resulted between fiscal year 1979 and 1983 in both high and low fiscal ability towns in relation to Connecticut State Department of Education standards or Connecticut mean Scholastic Aptitude Test scores. These variables included: (1) teacher-pupil ratio, (2) support staff-pupil ratio, (3) administrator-pupil ratio, (4) per-pupil expenditures for textbooks, (5) per-pupil expenditures for instructional supplies, (6) per-pupil expenditures for library books and periodicals, (7) per-pupil expenditures for other supplies and materials, (8) perpupil expenditures for equipment, and (9) Scholastic Aptitude Test scores. Wealthy communities maintained or improved educational services, in relation to the State standard, in all areas other than support staff-pupil ratio and expenditures for instructional supplies. Results from poor communities tended to indicate that the Guaranteed Tax Base plan might have been instrumental in improving four areas of educational services: teacher-pupil ratio, support staff-pupil ratio, expenditures for library books and periodicals, and expenditures for equipment. Findings from poor 'communities were inconclusive in the areas of expenditures for textbooks, instructional supplies and in Scholastic Aptitude Test scores. Results from poor communities also tended to show that educational services were below the State standard in two areas, administrator-pupil ratio and expenditures for supplies and materials.
Description
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Citation
Lawrence A. De John, "The Impact of Public Act 79-128, an Act Concerning Equalization of Educational Financing and Equity in Educational Opportunity, Upon Connecticut Secondary Schools Serving Rural Communities", Ph.D. dissertation, Dept. of Educational Management, Univ. of Bridgeport, Bridgeport, CT, February 1987.