January 8, 2010
The Fairfax County school system, the Washington area’s largest, on Thursday became the latest to propose dramatic spending reductions, including scaling back programs that have made it a national model fo r academic excellence. The 173,500-student system is facing historic revenue shortfalls. Superintendent Jack D. Dale has proposed a $2.3 billion budget that would increase […]
January 8, 2010
Gov. Paterson on Thursday urged lawmakers to lift the state’s cap on charter schools and let student test results be used in teacher tenure decisions. Eliminating the statewide cap of 200 charter schools would greatly improve New York’s chances of competing for $700million in much-needed federal funding, the governor said. "It is incumbent upon us […]
January 8, 2010
Special education costs have soared in local school districts during the past five years, driven by higher program costs, continued demand for those programs by parents, and cutbacks in state and federal aid. The costs have grown at double the rate of regular school budgets in about half of the area’s school districts, even as […]
January 8, 2010
In the midst of a legislative campaign for education reform and an uncertain budget season, state public school districts, school committees and teachers’ unions are also grappling with whether to agree to the terms of the Commonwealth’s ambitious and considerably controversial bid for federal education funding. Last year, as part of the federal economic stimulus […]
January 8, 2010
The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education issued the following news release: The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will hold four public hearings this month regarding proposed changes in state regulations for special education services in Missouri. The purpose of the hearings is to receive comments and suggestions from persons interested in services […]
January 8, 2010
Superintendent Chris Belcher has proposed slashing almost $6 million from Columbia Public Schools’ operating budget to combat an expected decrease in state funding. Belcher yesterday afternoon disclosed the $5.8 million in proposed cuts to a Columbia Board of Education finance committee. The budget ax would mostly affect the 2010-11 school year. The cuts total […]
January 8, 2010
With New York State teetering on the edge of financial ruin, tough choices have been made to keep the state solvent. In early December, school districts across the state dodged substantial midyear funding cuts, as state legislatures approved a 1 percent decrease in school aid. However, toward the end of the month, Governor David Paterson […]
January 8, 2010
California politicians scurried for months to pass legislation to ensure state schools have a chance to compete for federal Race to the Top stimulus funds. But many local districts have decided to watch the race from the sidelines. Roseville City Unified Elementary School District, Camino Union Elementary School District and Sutter Union High School District […]
January 8, 2010
The Pembroke School District could be facing a possible $1.3 million shortfall in the fiscal year 2011 budget if stimulus money, or “stabilization funds,” are not added to the budget through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. According to Superintendent Frank Hackett, the district has not yet heard from the state regarding the funds. Last […]
January 8, 2010
A series of sweeping education reforms intended to make California compet itive for up to $700 million in federal stimulus funding was signed into law Thursday, a milestone that Orange County educators say might prop up struggling schools – or bury local educators under new bureaucracy and costly regulations. The new laws encompass the education […]