EDUC 648 QUIZ 3: REVENUE—LOCAL
VS. STATE CONTROL. EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. In the landmark case San Antonio Independent School District v. Rodriguez (1973), the U.S.
Supreme Court ruled that education is not a fundamental right under which legal framework?
A. The Civil Rights Act of 1964
B. The Northwest Ordinance
C. Individual State Constitutions
D. The U.S. Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: The U.S. Supreme Court held that education is not a fundamental
right protected by the federal Constitution, thereby shifting the legal battle for school
finance equity to state courts.
2. Which school finance concept suggests that the quality of a child’s education should be a
function of the wealth of the state as a whole, rather than the wealth of a specific school
district?
A. Vertical Equity
,B. Tax Effort parity
C. Fiscal Neutrality
D. Categorical Sufficiency
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Fiscal neutrality is the principle that the level of spending for a
student’s education should not be dependent on the property wealth of their local district.
3. What is the primary characteristic of a ‘Foundation Program’ in school finance?
A. It allows districts to keep all locally generated revenue without state interference.
B. It requires all districts to spend the exact same amount per pupil regardless of local tax
rates.
C. It provides a flat grant to every student regardless of local wealth or tax effort.
D. It guarantees a minimum level of funding per pupil, provided the local district levies a
state-mandated tax rate.
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: A Foundation Program establishes a minimum per-pupil
expenditure level (the foundation) that the state and local district share, typically requiring
a minimum local tax effort.
4. In the context of school revenue, what does the term ‘Ad Valorem’ refer to?
A. A tax based on the income of the residents
, B. A tax according to the value of property
C. A tax on the consumption of luxury goods
D. A flat fee per household
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Ad Valorem is Latin for ‘according to value,’ and it is the
standard method for assessing local property taxes.
5. Which case was the first to successfully challenge a state’s school financing system based
on the state constitution’s equal protection and education clauses?
A. Serrano v. Priest
B. Brown v. Board of Education
C. Plessy v. Ferguson
D. Abbott v. Burke
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: Serrano v. Priest (California, 1971) was a groundbreaking case
where the state court ruled that the quality of education could not be a function of local
property wealth.
6. What is ‘Horizontal Equity’ in the context of school funding?
A. Ensuring students in similar circumstances receive equal treatment/funding
B. Providing more resources to students with greater needs
VS. STATE CONTROL. EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. In the landmark case San Antonio Independent School District v. Rodriguez (1973), the U.S.
Supreme Court ruled that education is not a fundamental right under which legal framework?
A. The Civil Rights Act of 1964
B. The Northwest Ordinance
C. Individual State Constitutions
D. The U.S. Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: The U.S. Supreme Court held that education is not a fundamental
right protected by the federal Constitution, thereby shifting the legal battle for school
finance equity to state courts.
2. Which school finance concept suggests that the quality of a child’s education should be a
function of the wealth of the state as a whole, rather than the wealth of a specific school
district?
A. Vertical Equity
,B. Tax Effort parity
C. Fiscal Neutrality
D. Categorical Sufficiency
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Fiscal neutrality is the principle that the level of spending for a
student’s education should not be dependent on the property wealth of their local district.
3. What is the primary characteristic of a ‘Foundation Program’ in school finance?
A. It allows districts to keep all locally generated revenue without state interference.
B. It requires all districts to spend the exact same amount per pupil regardless of local tax
rates.
C. It provides a flat grant to every student regardless of local wealth or tax effort.
D. It guarantees a minimum level of funding per pupil, provided the local district levies a
state-mandated tax rate.
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: A Foundation Program establishes a minimum per-pupil
expenditure level (the foundation) that the state and local district share, typically requiring
a minimum local tax effort.
4. In the context of school revenue, what does the term ‘Ad Valorem’ refer to?
A. A tax based on the income of the residents
, B. A tax according to the value of property
C. A tax on the consumption of luxury goods
D. A flat fee per household
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Ad Valorem is Latin for ‘according to value,’ and it is the
standard method for assessing local property taxes.
5. Which case was the first to successfully challenge a state’s school financing system based
on the state constitution’s equal protection and education clauses?
A. Serrano v. Priest
B. Brown v. Board of Education
C. Plessy v. Ferguson
D. Abbott v. Burke
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: Serrano v. Priest (California, 1971) was a groundbreaking case
where the state court ruled that the quality of education could not be a function of local
property wealth.
6. What is ‘Horizontal Equity’ in the context of school funding?
A. Ensuring students in similar circumstances receive equal treatment/funding
B. Providing more resources to students with greater needs
