Proposition 2½: Lessons from Massachusetts (1982)

"Prepare. If the tax reform movement hasn't reached your state, chances are it's not far away… for public education, this new wave of education means less money." Although this warning comes from a January 1982 Educational Leadership article, its message will ring true to many today as school budgets nationwide are squeezed and federal funding dries up.

Read the article: "Proposition 2½: Lessons from Massachusetts" (PDF)

The authors look at the effect of a tax measure passed in Massachusetts that resulted in tighter school budgets, surveying how districts made cuts and synthesizing the findings into a chart that makes priorities clear. Overall, "nonpersonnel items" such as busing, professional development, field trips, and new textbooks, were the first to be reduced, with "academic programs and teachers" the last and least affected.

Especially useful to today's readers are recommendations on dealing with reduced resources and the budget-cutting process. Tips on bringing diverse voices to the table and developing strong decision-making systems may help make a tough process a little easier.