Industry News
CPS Layoffs Set a ‘Dangerous Precedent’ (IL)
July 6, 2010
With her long list of special-education credentials, Deborah Domes has traveled all over the city teaching some of Chicago’s most heart-wrenching cases –from terminally ill teenagers to "Girl X" of Cabrini-Green, after the youngster emerged from a coma. With her prized national certification in teaching, Erin O’Brien enjoyed helping new teachers in seven schools, offering […]
School Districts Avoid Cuts in Special Education in Budget Crisis (NJ)
July 6, 2010
In as dismal a budget year as anyone can remember, with rising costs and steep cuts in state aid, school districts across New Jersey have looked for savings wherever they can find them. School boards have laid off teachers, scrapped sports, pruned full-day kindergarten to a half day and eliminated free busing for some students. […]
Ed Funding Increases, but Falls Short of Levels From 2 Years Ago (PA)
July 6, 2010
The state budget deal hammered out in Harrisburg last week increases basic education funding for Northampton County’s eight school districts by $6.6 million. It is $2.1 million less than what Gov. Ed Rendell proposed in February. While the budget increases basic education funding statewide by $250 million — a 4.5 percent increase — it still […]
Illinois’ Budget Uncertainty Leaves Schools in Limbo (IL)
July 6, 2010
When Gov. Pat Quinn announced last week that Illinois schools aren’t getting cut as deeply as feared in his new budget, the message was clear. "We don’t want school districts lopping off teachers," said Quinn, who also pledged that the schools will get the more than $1 billion owed to them in state back payments […]
More Districts Plan to Leave Special Education Cooperative (IL)
July 6, 2010
Two more districts have joined Golf Elementary School District 67 in the process of withdrawing from the Niles Township District for Special Education 807, submitting letters stating their intent to pull out in two years. East Prairie Elementary District 73 in Skokie and Culver Elementary District 71 in Niles both submitted letters in late June. […]
S.F. to Reform 9 Schools, Shut 1 to Get Grants (CA)
July 6, 2010
San Francisco will shut down one school and overhaul nine others in a bid for millions of dollars in federal funding to help turn around the city’s lowest performing schools, district officials announced Friday. &#x 0A; The 10 sites are among 188 schools ranked academically in the bottom 5 percent statewide. If drastic changes are […]
State Boosts School Funding by 6% (PA)
July 6, 2010
Lancaster County schools will get a 6 percent boost in basic education funding in the 2010-11 state budget approved this week by the Legislature. As of Friday, Gov. Ed Rendell had yet to sign the spending plan because of a dispute over whether a new fiscal oversight office should be included in the budget. But […]
Even With State Subsidy, Pennsylvania School Budgets Facing Cuts (PA)
July 2, 2010
Even though the new state budget would increase the main public-education subsidy, the funding would not protect schools from making cuts next year, some school leaders say. Most have already had to reduce staff and make other cuts to balance their budgets for next year, which had to be passed by June 30. The large […]
Medicaid Cuts Might Not Affect USD 489 (KS)
July 2, 2010
Changes to Medicaid billing regulations, which might cost Kansas school districts up to $8.5 million, is unlikely to affect Hays USD 489. According to Superintendent Fred Kaufman, cuts in Medicaid reimbursements for special education students might not affect USD 489, as the district has not received those funds in the past. "What our concern is, […]
Legislature Approves Restoring Some Funding to State’s Schools (MI)
July 2, 2010
The Michigan Legislature approved a new $12.8-billion school funding plan on Thursday that boosts state aid by $11 per pupil immediately and through the 2010-11 school year. Gov. Jennifer Granholm will sign the budget bill, which passed on the first day of school districts ‘ fiscal year. Districts generally have already put in place their […]