JSPES, Vol. 31, No. 2 (Summer 2006 )
pp. 175-190

The Dilemma of School Finance Reform

Joshua Hall

West Virginia University

In many states school finance litigation has mandated the centralization of education funding in an attempt to improve educational adequacy. This study uses data on Ohio school districts to investigate the factors affecting school district performance and finds few aggregate variables that state education policymakers can change to improve student performance. The author argues that this presents a dilemma for state policymakers who are under a judicial order to improve educational opportunity through increased financing. Given the constraints imposed by the judiciary, the superior knowledge of local officials suggests that state policymakers should give local school district officials autonomy to craft local solutions.