Here is the synopsis of our sample research paper on Massachusetts: Educational Funding. Have the paper e-mailed to you 24/7/365.
Essay / Research Paper Abstract
7 pages in length. Massachusetts, a state that has come under fire for failing to meet constitutional requirements with regard to funding "less affluent school districts" (Hunter, 2004) so students can acquire an 'adequate' education, is trapped within the issue of educational reform, a reality that exists because the very notion of academic achievement has been lost within a quagmire of social, political and economic restrictions. From Commonwealth v. Dedham in 1819 to McDuffy v. Secretary to the Massachusetts Education Reform Act of 1993 (MERA) to Hancock v. Driscoll, Massachusetts continues to work out the constitutional kinks in its educational funding program. Bibliography lists 6 sources.
Page Count:
7 pages (~225 words per page)
File: LM1_TLCMassEdFnd.rtf
Buy This Term Paper »
Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
the issue of educational reform, a reality that exists because the very notion of academic achievement has been lost within a quagmire of social, political and economic restrictions. From
Commonwealth v. Dedham in 1819 to McDuffy v. Secretary to the Massachusetts Education Reform Act of 1993 (MERA) to Hancock v. Driscoll, Massachusetts continues to work out the constitutional kinks
in its educational funding program. Massachusetts began the battle of educational funding more than two centuries ago when the Court was compelled to implement an equitable approach to reaching all
students via Commonwealth v. Dedham in 1819. This ruling set a precedent that mandated schools were to be "maintained for the benefit of the whole town, as it is
the wise policy of the law to give all the inhabitants equal privileges, for the education of their children in the public schools. Nor is it in the power
of the majority to deprive the minority of this privilege" (Hunter, 2004). This fundamental basis for an evenhanded approach to education held strong until 1993 when the state found
itself in the middle of another academic lawsuit with McDuffy v. Secretary reiterating much of the same argument from the nineteenth century case. In short, Massachusetts failed to honor
its own state constitution whereby the Encouragement of Literature clause pointedly held the Commonwealth responsible for educating all students regardless of affluence. These guidelines were fortified by Rose v.
Council for Better Education in Kentucky to clearly identify just what is expected of the Commonwealth. Shortly thereafter came the Massachusetts Education Reform Act of 1993 - which "doubled state
education aid to municipalities and also required state authorities to hold students, schools, and districts accountable for performance on state tests" (McDermott, 2006, p. 45) - whereby a "foundation budget"
...