Selected State Reports

State Reports

■The Illinois General Purpose Grant-in-Aid System, 1979-1980, by Virginia Lundeen, G. Alan Hickrod, Ben C. Hubbard and Ramesh Chaudhari, Center for the Study of Educational Finance, Illinois State University, Normal 61761 (1979), 20pp.

A clear, concise, yet comprehensive, description of the four funding methods available to elementary, high school and unit districts in Illinois; also presents the 1976, 1978 and 1979 amendments to the formulas.

■Proposed Tax Reforms and Community College Finance in Illinois, by Betty Doversberger and G. Alan Hickrod, Center for the Study of Educational Finance, Illinois State University, Normal 61761 (September 1979)

This study discusses tax limitation measures proposed to the 81st Illinois General Assembly and compares them with measures in other states, especially California and Michigan. Growth trends in funding and geographic distribution of revenue per full-time students are discussed. The effects of the proposed Taxpayers' Rights Amendment are projected backwards to 1972 to examine effect on local property tax revenues.

■Financing Township Services, by Norman Walzer and Peter J. Stratton, Public Policy Research Institute, Western Illinois University, and Cooperative Extension Service, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (August 1979), 84pp. (Available from Public Policy Research Institute or Cooperative Extension Service.)

Illinois continues to have an unusually large number of local governments, frequently leading to charges of waste due to duplication. This study focuses on one such governmental unit, townships. While it does not formulate specific recommendations, it does provide much basic information on the services provided, the sources of revenue, types of expenditures, as well as a lengthy discussion of financing roads and bridges.

■Guide to Illinois State Services, available from Department of Commerce and Community Affairs, 222 S. College St., Springfield IL 62706 ($3.50)

A revised compilation of state agency programs offering financial assistance, technical assistance, or direct service to communities, agencies, organizations, or individuals. Each entry includes descriptive information on the program listing.

■ "Students and Schools: Rights and Responsibilities," State Board of Education (1979), revised edition, 19pp.

This manual provides information for school board members, administrators, teachers, counselors, as well as students. It covers student records, attendance, freedom of association, special education, course requirements and graduation, grievance procedures and other topics.

Other Reports

■ "The Case Against State Licensing of Child Care Facilities: A Theoretical and Empirical Analysis," by William Moskoff (December 1978); available from Center for Policy Studies and Program Evaluation, Sangamon State University, Springfield, 62708.

The author looks at the broad theoretical question of whether the state should be involved in licensing of child care facilities and at the economic implications of such licensing. He concludes that in communities with populations of less than 100,000 licensing should be eliminated, that for those who wish it there should be a process of certification, and that the states need to conduct children and parents. A lengthy appendix presents information collected from other states on their licensing policies and procedure,

■ "Guide to Consumer Agencies and Organizations in Illinois," edited by Stan Roses, University of Illinois (1979), 44pp. Available from Charles Kerr Publishing Co., 600 W. Jackson, Suite 413, Chicago, 60606 ($2.50).

The alphabetical listing of agencies includes the name, address, telephone number and a brief description of available services of each agency there is also a cross index of problem area covered by the agencies.

■Central Illinois Economic-Business Review is a new publication launched in September 1979 by Sangamon State University in cooperation with business and civic leaders in central Illinois. Planned as a quarterly, its primary purpose is to inform local business, government and civic leaders about the current status of the regional economy. For more information and a free copy of the Review call (217) 786-6712.

■Collections of Nutrition, Health, and Human Service Materials, Illinois Nutrition Advocacy Campaign, 610 East Vine Street, Springfield, 62703 (free).

A bibliotheca of the publications, posters and periodicals contained in INAC's library.

Items listed under State Documents have been received by the Documents Unit, Illinois State Library, Springfield, and are usually available from public libraries in the state through interlibrary loan./A.J.M.

22/June 1980/Illinois Issues