School Finance Litigation and Beyond MS Word PDF - While school funding lawsuits have produced broad changes in some states, there are instances where the cost of litigation – both financially and in terms of impacts on the education system – may outstrip any benefits. This paper outlines some of the costs that school funding lawsuits pose to states and offers several strategies beyond litigation for policymakers and members of the education community. (Michael Griffith, Education Commission of the States, April 2005)...

The Effectiveness of Court-Ordered Funding of Schools - Advocates of court intervention in school finance argue that student achievement can be improved with additional funding. This report indicates, when coupled with more fundamental reforms, funding increases show some promise. Yet achievement data from four states show that court-ordered funding does not necessarily raise student test scores. (Eric Hanushek and Alfred Lindseth, American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research, May 2009)...