EDUC 648 QUIZ 3: REVENUE—LOCAL
VS. STATE CONTROL. EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. Which landmark U.S. Supreme Court case ruled that education is not a fundamental right
under the U.S. Constitution?
A. San Antonio Independent School District v. Rodriguez
B. Serrano v. Priest
C. Brown v. Board of Education
D. Rose v. Council for Better Education
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: In 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court held in San Antonio ISD v.
Rodriguez that while education is important, it is not a fundamental right under the federal
Constitution, thus maintaining the constitutionality of property-tax-based funding.
2. The concept of ‘fiscal neutrality’ was first popularized in which state court case?
A. Abbott v. Burke
B. Robinson v. Cahill
C. Edgewood ISD v. Kirby
,D. Serrano v. Priest
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: The California Supreme Court in Serrano v. Priest (1971)
established the principle of fiscal neutrality, meaning the quality of a child’s education
should not be a function of the wealth of their parents and neighbors.
3. A tax is considered ‘regressive’ when:
A. The tax rate increases as the income of the taxpayer increases.
B. The tax rate remains constant regardless of income level.
C. It is applied only to luxury goods.
D. It takes a larger percentage of income from low-income earners than from high-income
earners.
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Regressive taxes, such as sales taxes on necessities,
disproportionately affect low-income individuals because the tax represents a larger share
of their total income.
4. In the context of school finance, what is a ‘mill’?
A. One-tenth of a cent ($0.001)
B. One percent of the assessed value
C. A flat fee per student
, D. One dollar per thousand dollars of assessed value
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: A mill is one-tenth of a cent, or $0.001. In property taxation, one
mill equals $1 of tax for every $1,000 of assessed property value.
5. Which funding model provides a fixed amount of state aid per pupil regardless of the local
district’s wealth?
A. Flat Grant
B. District Power Equalizing
C. Foundation Program
D. Full State Funding
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: A Flat Grant program distributes a uniform amount of money
per student or per teacher unit to all districts, ignoring local fiscal capacity.
6. Which state supreme court case defined ‘adequacy’ by listing specific capabilities every
student should possess?
A. DeRolph v. State (Ohio)
B. Rose v. Council for Better Education (Kentucky)
C. Campaign for Fiscal Equity v. State (New York)
D. McDuffy v. Secretary of the Executive Office of Education (Massachusetts)
VS. STATE CONTROL. EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. Which landmark U.S. Supreme Court case ruled that education is not a fundamental right
under the U.S. Constitution?
A. San Antonio Independent School District v. Rodriguez
B. Serrano v. Priest
C. Brown v. Board of Education
D. Rose v. Council for Better Education
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: In 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court held in San Antonio ISD v.
Rodriguez that while education is important, it is not a fundamental right under the federal
Constitution, thus maintaining the constitutionality of property-tax-based funding.
2. The concept of ‘fiscal neutrality’ was first popularized in which state court case?
A. Abbott v. Burke
B. Robinson v. Cahill
C. Edgewood ISD v. Kirby
,D. Serrano v. Priest
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: The California Supreme Court in Serrano v. Priest (1971)
established the principle of fiscal neutrality, meaning the quality of a child’s education
should not be a function of the wealth of their parents and neighbors.
3. A tax is considered ‘regressive’ when:
A. The tax rate increases as the income of the taxpayer increases.
B. The tax rate remains constant regardless of income level.
C. It is applied only to luxury goods.
D. It takes a larger percentage of income from low-income earners than from high-income
earners.
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Regressive taxes, such as sales taxes on necessities,
disproportionately affect low-income individuals because the tax represents a larger share
of their total income.
4. In the context of school finance, what is a ‘mill’?
A. One-tenth of a cent ($0.001)
B. One percent of the assessed value
C. A flat fee per student
, D. One dollar per thousand dollars of assessed value
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: A mill is one-tenth of a cent, or $0.001. In property taxation, one
mill equals $1 of tax for every $1,000 of assessed property value.
5. Which funding model provides a fixed amount of state aid per pupil regardless of the local
district’s wealth?
A. Flat Grant
B. District Power Equalizing
C. Foundation Program
D. Full State Funding
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: A Flat Grant program distributes a uniform amount of money
per student or per teacher unit to all districts, ignoring local fiscal capacity.
6. Which state supreme court case defined ‘adequacy’ by listing specific capabilities every
student should possess?
A. DeRolph v. State (Ohio)
B. Rose v. Council for Better Education (Kentucky)
C. Campaign for Fiscal Equity v. State (New York)
D. McDuffy v. Secretary of the Executive Office of Education (Massachusetts)
