Industry News
Districts to Share $1.3 Million in Educational Technology Grants (WI)
August 5, 2010
Educational technology projects that will impact more than 225 school districts and other local educational agencies will share $1.3 million in federal funding through the Enhancing Education through Technology grant program. The federal grants target “high needs” districts based on income levels and federal census data to help them use technology and train teach ers. […]
Majority of State School Systems Meet AYP Goals (AL)
August 5, 2010
There were 51 school systems and 342 schools in Alabama that did not make Adequate Yearly Progress during the 2009-2010 school year, according to information released by the state Department of Education on Monday. The state’s public schools do, however, continue to show progress, state Superintendent of Education Joe Morton said. Morton pointed to rising […]
Medicaid, School Aid Bill Promises Millions for Nevada (NV)
August 5, 2010
Senate Democrats on Wednesday defeated a Republican filibuster and cleared a path for a $26 billion bill to rescue cash-starved states contemplating layoffs to teachers and other public employees. For Nevada, the legislation promises $83 million to bolster school budgets and $79 million to cushion a shortfall in state spending on health care for the […]
Some Schools Feel Shut Out of Grant Money (CA)
August 4, 2010
The California Board of Education will hand out over $40 0 million in school improvement grant money to school districts before Labor Day. It sounds like a windfall, but some struggling East Bay school districts may not see a dime. Oakland Unified School District spokesperson Troy Flint says the embattled district was counting on $9 […]
Educators, Officials Face 400% Spike in Autism (TX)
August 4, 2010
As the number of children believed to be autistic has skyrocketed in Texas and worldwide, much of the public debate has focused on the reasons for the rapid increase. But after a decade in which when the state has seen a fourfold spike in diagnoses of the condition — to nearly 30,000 — the more […]
School Nurses Are in Short Supply (GA)
August 4, 2010
Whether your child is in good health or not, a registered nurse at school can recognize medical issues you may have missed and be a powerful advocate to ensure your school has life-saving equipment. But thanks to strapped education budgets, many schools today don’t employ a full-time nurse. And in schools that still have nurses, […]
Duncan Candid About Special Ed Shortcomings, Promises Change (US)
August 4, 2010
Many children with disabilities don’t get the schooling they’re entitled to, but Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said Tuesday he’s committed to changing the status quo. In a speech to hundreds of parents and educators attending a national special education conference, Duncan acknowledged the lengths that many parents must go to ensure that their children […]
Wake Schools Can Cope With State Cuts (NC)
August 4, 2010
At a time when other school districts have laid off large numbers of teachers, Wake County school leaders are feeling fort unate that they’re not facing deeper budget cuts. Wake school administrators said Tuesday that the district will only have to cut $2.6 million more from the budget to make up for unplanned losses in […]
Utah School Districts Weigh Tax Hikes (UT)
August 4, 2010
Grappling with budget shortfalls, eight Utah school districts are planning to boost property taxes this month. On the Wasatch Front, Salt Lake City, Davis and Weber County school boards are weighing tax increases. In rural Utah, school districts for Beaver, Daggett, Garfield, Morgan and Rich counties plan to bump their tax rates. But Beaver and […]
Rulings Clarify Benchmarks for Schools’ Pass Rates (VA)
August 3, 2010
Until a few days ago, Virginia’s schools didn’t know what it would take to be labeled as passing or failing for the upcoming school year. Several rulings from the U.S. Department of Education have cleared up that uncertainty. Two of them – concerning graduation rates and special-education scores – will make it harder for schools […]