The purpose of this study was to review the history of financing public school facilities in Virginia with primary emphasis on the period of the public schools, 1870 through 1987. An ancillary purpose of the study was to review alternative methods of financing public school capital facilities in Virginia in 1987 and certain considerations in the determination of school plant needs and implementation of a capital improvements plan. A combination topical-chronological synthesis research plan was employed within time frames of twenty-six to thirty-year periods from 1870-1987. As a result of this study, the following findings and conclusions were made: / Ph. D.