Financing education in Newfoundland: 1960-61 to 1970-71

Russell, Frazer Woodrow (1973) Financing education in Newfoundland: 1960-61 to 1970-71. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to review the program of public elementary and secondary school finance in Newfoundland from 1960-61 to 1970-71. -- At a more specific level, the purposes of the study were: (1) to make an analysis of 1960-61 to 1970-71 trends in provincial revenues for public elementary and secondary education, (2) to make an analysis of provincial procedures for distributing provincial funds to local school boards, (3) to describe provincial organizational relationships - especially with reference to capital expenditures for public elementary and secondary education, (4) to make an analysis of 1960-61 to 1970-71 trends in local revenues for public elementary and secondary education, (5) to trace the development of local taxation for public elementary and secondary education during the period from 1960-61 to 1970-71, (6) to describe from the literature on public and school finance the foundation program concept of financing education, (7) to investigate the use of the foundation program in financing public elementary and secondary education in other Canadian provinces, (8) to make an analysis of 1960-61 to 1970-71 trends in public elementary and secondary school expenditures, (9) to examine the impact of increased price levels and increased enrollment on public elementary and secondary school expenditures during the period from 1960-61 to 1970-71, and (10) to make a statement of implications for future financing of public elementary and secondary education in Newfoundland. -- The data used in the study were obtained from: (1) Annual Reports of the Department of Education, (2) Annual Financial Reports of School Boards, (3) Public Accounts of the Province, (4) Newfoundland Federation of School Boards, (5) Provincial Association of School Tax Authorities, (6) Denominational Education Committees, (7) provincial statutes, (8) Canada Yearbooks, (9) other Statistics Canada publications, (10) regulations, files, and records of the Department of Education, and (11) Royal Commission Reports. -- The principal method of research utilized in the study was the normative - survey method. The historical and analytical methods were also used at various stages of the study. The study presented its data in both descriptive and tabular form. -- The findings of the study support the following conclusions: (1) In spite of substantial increases in expenditure for public elementary and secondary education in "current dollars" over the period from 1960-61 to 1970-71, the increases in "constant dollars" have not been as dramatic; (2) The operating expenditure per student in public elementary and secondary schools of Newfoundland is substantially lower than that of any other Canadian province. Hence, there is ample justification for seeking federal assistance to public elementary and secondary education in this province); (3) There is a definite need for a systematic method of raising funds for public elementary and secondary education from local sources; (4) Newfoundland's school grants system has grown to become cumbersome by successive additions of special grants. Because of this, there must be a consolidation of grants based on the principles of the foundation program concept of education finance; and (5) The lack of a stable source of local revenue in Newfoundland school districts has discouraged school boards from going beyond the standard provincial program supported by provincial grants to school boards. -- The study identified the following three areas of further research): (1) the development of an educational price index specifically designed to measure the change in price levels of educational inputs in Newfoundalnd, (2) an investigation of the extent of differentials in cost per pupil of educating elementary and secondary pupils in Newfoundland school districts, and (3) a cost - benefit study to determine the effectiveness of Newfoundland schools or school systems.

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