March 30, 2011
ALBANY — Not unlike many 11th-graders, Sarah Flowers boasts of her achievements in high school: the seven Regents exams she has passed, her stints as class president and yearbook editor, and her sports activities. "That would not be available to me in a hearing school," said Flowers, a Cheektowaga resident who attends St. Mary’s School […]
March 30, 2011
Sporting red T-shirts to symbolize solidarity, educators rallied Tuesday at campuses across Los Angeles Unified as the district sent out the last of the 7,300 pink slips to employees targeted for layoff. The notices were sent this month to teachers, counselors, school nurses and librarians as Los Angeles Unified struggles to close a $408 million […]
March 30, 2011
AUSTIN — Texas public school children and their textbooks appear to be caught in a tug-of-war between the State Board of Education and lawmakers as part of the continuing budget struggle. State board members are growing increasingly anxious that lawmakers might not provide funding for new textbooks and instructional material – even though they’re giving […]
March 30, 2011
U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan called Tuesday for an overhaul of the federal No Child Left Behind law and urged Los Angeles school management and teachers union leaders to negotiate a new contract that strengthens teacher evaluations. "L.A. faces a perfect opportunity, not a perfect storm," he said during a speech at a United Way […]
March 30, 2011
In Houston, school district officials introduced a test score-based evaluation system to determine teacher bonuses, then — in the face of massive protests — jettisoned the formula after one year to devise a better one. In New York, teachers union officials are fighting the public release of ratings for m ore than 12,000 teachers, arguing […]
March 30, 2011
In addition to reducing per-student payments to schools by 10 percent next year, the South Dakota Department of Education plans to cut back on technology upgrades and reimbursements for students who take Advanced Placement classes and exams. Education officials detailed their proposed 2012 budget Wednesday before the Legislature’s Joint Appropriations Committee. Gov. Dennis Daugaard has […]
March 30, 2011
Again, good and bad news for fans of education spending. The good news: The House Appropriations Committee has introduced a bill to keep the government afloat for the next two weeks. If the measure is approved by the U.S. Senate and signed by President Barack Obama, it would temporarily avert a shutdown, and give lawmakers […]
March 30, 2011
When Jerry Brown collided with lawmakers during his first stint as governor — having his vetoes overridden, being ejected from the Senate on an unannounced visit — he relied on his 28-year-old legislative secretary, Diana Dooley, to smooth things over. "Her job back then was pretty tough," the once-again governor admits. More than 30 years […]
March 30, 2011
In Tallahassee, Florida’s Legislature has one overriding goal this session: to close a $4.5 billion budget shortfall. And one of the key programs it is targeting for cuts is Medicaid. In Florida and every other state, the program, which provides health insurance for the needy, makes up a big chunk of the annual budget. In […]
March 30, 2011
A Georgia House panel on Thursday approved an $18.25 billion state budget that restores funding for some low-income Medicaid recipients but also boosts health insurance costs for state employees. The Hous e Appropriations Committee voted 59-1 to OK the spending plan for the fiscal year that begins July 1. Georgia is facing the loss of […]