Filed Under >
In the News on November 30, 2007
NJ Gov. will propose a new school financing formula * Drive meant to weed out "incompetent" NYC teachers is under attack * MA students offer ideas on how to reduce drop outs * Longer school day appears to boost MA test scores *
School Funding Litigation/Policy
IL Gov. hints at veto of school funding measure
NJ Gov. will propose a new school financing formula that will give $400 million in new state money to poor and disadvantaged children who live outside traditional inner-city school districts, according to officials familiar with the plan
WV’s revised school aid formula will return more of the local tax dollars back to the counties rather than the state
State Roundup
Educators gather to address CT’s wide gaps between reading levels
Suffering from massive budget cuts and declining student achievement, MA school district faces potential state takeover, and executive director of the state Office of Educational Quality and Accountability says “more districts may join the list”
Longer school day appears to boost MA test scores
MA middle and high school students offer suggestions and other ideas on how to prevent students from quitting school
Legislative committee endorses a bill that would place the legal "burden of proof" on school districts in court disputes over special education, giving a boost to families contesting districts' programs
An aggressive drive meant to weed out “incompetent” NYC teachers is under attack from a local teachers’ union and teacher-quality advocates, who describe it as a “witch hunt”
OK task force presents proposals to the state Board of Education and recommends lengthening the school year for 2010-2011
In the News on November 29, 2007
Commentary – Why private-sector accountability should be part of the NCLB reauthorization
Commentary – Why private-sector accountability should be part of the NCLB reauthorization
Study says states are on board with English proficiency tests but concludes that it’s too early to tell if a passing score predicts that a student will do well in a regular classroom or on other mandatory state tests
School Funding Litigation/Policy
MD assembly puts new schools in jeopardy – Budget cuts mean bigger burden for counties
OK conservative grass-roots organization proposes consolidating administrative functions at some school districts to reduce overhead costs
In the News on November 28, 2007
Angry teachers and school administrators in VT vent about the federal NCLB Act
Parents of special education students push for segregated teaching environments, including separate schools
Democratic candidates share their views on merit pay for teachers in debate
Report concludes that states are making steady progress building data systems to collect student-achievement data, but they need to do a better job analyzing and using the data to improve education systems; group urges state-level longitudinal data systems
Students in urban districts inch forward on NAEP tests; educators say it’s because they have gotten better at using data and strategies for turning around low-performing students
Report says 40 states have official K-12 online-learning programs, and in almost half those programs student enrollments are growing at a rate of 25 percent annually
School Funding Litigation/Policy
IN teacher’s union argues that reducing property tax bills could hurt school funding
Panel wrestles with the nitty-gritty of a proposal that would abolish VT’s education property tax and instead rely on income taxes to fund schools
State Roundup
Report singles out
CA is poised to adopt the nation’s first set of statewide academic standards devoted to preschool English-language learners, according to education officials
CO education panel presents 15 recommendations it hopes will lead to higher teacher pay, provide full-day kindergarten, decrease dropout rates and better prepare students for life after high school; Gov. cautions that not all of them can be implemented immediately
Only 5 percent of GA’s special education students eligible for private school vouchers are using them this school year, according to a state report
MA schools are urged to toughen curriculum and the state adopts college preparatory guidelines
MA selects schools to be considered for school construction money now that the new building authority is up and running
Falling between two worlds: NC immigrants face troubles at school and in their communities
Report says that state government does little to help NJ's 616 school districts share services, despite recent laws meant to encourage cooperation that might save money
NV proposes a $9.5 billion building proposal to underwrite construction of 73 new schools and prevent double school sessions
Campaign for Fiscal Equity urges immediate action to reduce class sizes in NYC schools
WA schools face diploma dilemma because of the number of students who may not graduate because of the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL)
SC House committee will review the state’s 30-year-old educational funding system
WV governor applauds lawmakers for taking on changes to the way state schools are funded, but does not endorse recommended proposal
State Roundup
CA Department of Education alerts 99 school districts that they are in danger of being abolished, taken over or stripped of administrators and schools, for falling short of academic benchmarks
D.C. public schools opened the academic year with improved facilities but still had trouble hiring teachers and getting enough instructional materials, according to a survey
D.C. council members are upset by short notice to close 24 schools and pledge to hold hearings on the plan even though they have no authority to vote on the closures
The number of ME schools that failed to make adequate yearly progress under NCLB increased this year, although test scores actually improved
MN groups work to turn child care into early education
NC community colleges remove option to admit illegal immigrants – legal decision reverses a 2004 rule that gave campuses the option to say no
NV Education Department seeks a moratorium on sponsorship of new charter schools because of a shortage of staff and resources that prevents proper oversight
OR investigation concludes that Portland Public Schools do a good job of identifying gifted children, but a poor job of making sure those children get the services they need
Teachers pass students who fail the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills even though it's a requirement for promotion to the next grade
WA Superintendent of Public Instruction urges more time and money for foreign students on assessment test required for graduation
Published Monday, Dec. 3, 2007