CONTENTS

Preface

Introduction     1

1.  Urban Plight and Inequitable Educational Opportunity     7

      Kozol’s View and Critique of the Crisis in Urban Education     10

 Biddle’s View and Critique of the Crisis in American Education     16

2.  Subsidizing Suburban Sprawl, Other Spending Priorities, and Trends     23

Subsidizing Sports Entertainment, Trade Conferences, and Concerts     23

Fiscal Trends and Challenges     35

3.  Adequate Versus Equitable Funding     39

4.  Abbott Decisions and Political Resistance Against Equal Educational 

     Opportunity     47

5.  Minding Buildings to Build Stronger Minds     65

6.  Best Practices to Close the Achievement Gap     77

7.  Policy Recommendations     89

     Vision 2015     94

8.  The Evolving Federal Role in Financing Public Schools, K-12     99

Conclusion     106

Bibliography     115

Index     126