Education Program
This Week in Education
January 24 - January 30, 2008
Highlighted Bills of the Week
(Powered by State Net)
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Utah SB 41-(In committee)
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This bill creates the Extended School Year Incentive Program to provide grants to school districts to pay for costs relating to converting to an extended school year schedule; requires the State Board of Education to solicit grant proposals from school districts and award grants on a competitive basis; and directs the State Board of Education, in selecting grant recipients, to consider certain benefits that may be achieved by a school district's proposed to an extended school year schedule; and the unique circumstances of small, rural school districts. |
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Colorado SB 1-(Introduced) |
Creates in the department of public safety the school safety resource center to assist schools in preventing, preparing for, responding to, and recovering from emergencies and crisis situations. Sets forth the duties of the center and allows the center to employ staff and contract for services. Creates in the department the school safety resource center advisory board to recommend the policies of the center. Describes the members of the advisory board, including the appointing authority of each member. Requires the director of the center to report to the executive director of the department concerning the efficacy and value of the services provided by the center to schools. Requires the executive director of the department to report to the education and judiciary committees of the house of representatives and senate concerning the efficacy and value of the services provided by the center to schools. |
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This Week in Education
January 24 - January 30, 2008
K-12
Housing Downturn Squeezing Schools: Program Delays, Larger Classes Being Considered
The rapid cooling of the Washington area's real estate market has hit school systems with force, abruptly ending years of plenty and compelling superintendents to ask their teachers, bus drivers and custodians to do more with less.
Failing districts may face takeover: Greater state power over schools in works
Lawmakers are moving closer to giving the state power to take over an entire school district where students fail to learn year after year. A bill that will be reintroduced this legislative session would allow the state to replace the struggling district's superintendent. That newly appointed superintendent would report directly to the state, instead of the local school board, for at least three years.
Resegregation of U.S. schools deepening
At one time, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District in North Carolina was a model of court-ordered integration.Today, nearly a decade after a court struck down its racial-balancing busing program, the school district is moving in the opposite direction. More than half of its elementary schools are either more than 90 percent black or 90 percent white. "Charlotte is rapidly resegregating," says Carol Sawyer, a parent and member of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Equity Committee.
Va. Senate Backs Phaseout of Trans Fats in School Food
The Virginia Senate voted unanimously Tuesday to phase out the use of artery-clogging trans fats in food sold at public schools, from the cheese pizza in the cafeteria to the chips in the vending machine.
Bill aims to avert school violence
A think tank of educators, law officers and mental-health experts would research and test the best ways to prevent school violence under a bill announced Monday by Gov. Bill Ritter. The School Safety Resource Center would choose five schools or colleges to test ways to thwart shootings and other emergencies. "We want Colorado to be a leader in preventing violence, not enduring it," said Ritter, who as Denver district attorney spent days at the scene of the Columbine High School shootings. If Senate Bill 1 becomes law, the resource center would help districts monitor bullying, truancy and high-risk behavior to try to prevent school violence.
Leadership
New Schools Chief Meets Community Half a Year Before Job Begins
San Diego's newest superintendent has made the rounds at a whirlwind pace since the school board voted unanimously to hire him Saturday.
School Choice
School vows to fight lawsuit
Ohio’s Attorney General wants to shut down Harmony Community School, one of Cincinnati’s oldest and largest charter schools, but school leaders and parents say they’ll fight to keep it open.
State charter school panel OK'd in committee
A crucial House committee Tuesday supported the creation of a state commission that would recommend new charter schools, which potentially would provide Georgians with more tuition-free schooling options. Under HB 881, which won approval 22-4 in the House Education Committee, the seven-member panel could begin sanctioning new k-12 schools as early as next year.
Post-Secondary Education
House panel backs repeal of in-state tuition for students in U.S. illegally
With about 100 people waiting to hear the debate on a bill that would repeal in-state college tuition for undocumented students, the House Education Committee on Tuesday started its meeting 30 minutes late and then only allowed for 10 minutes of public comment on it. In an 8-5 vote, Republicans passed HB241. Four Democrats and Rep. Kory Holdaway, R-Taylorsville, voted against the measure. The bill now heads to the House floor. Last year, the repeal died just shy of one vote in the House.
Lawmakers Study Ways To Cut Cost Of Textbooks
Maryland lawmakers voiced support yesterday for legislation to control the escalating costs of college textbooks, including a measure that would prohibit public university employees from taking benefits from publishers in exchange for assigning particular books.
Immigration bills advance: Proposals targeting education, police duties go to full House
Legislation to block undocumented immigrants from attending state colleges sailed through the House Rules Committee yesterday with other immigrant-related proposals that are headed for a full vote in the House. House Bill 14, sponsored by Del. Christopher K. Peace, R-Hanover, is among dozens aimed at cracking down on illegal immigration this year.
Education Finance
State House tackles property taxes
State House members last night debated a radical change in the way public schools are funded in Pennsylvania -- completely eliminating the $10 billion raised annually in school property taxes and replacing that, over four years, with a higher personal income tax rate and sales taxes on many professional services that aren't now taxed.
New school aid plan has low-income aspect
The chairman of a key legislative committee on school funding said yesterday a report to be released this week allows aid to be targeted to the neediest schools without a constitutional amendment.
Educators put price on English as 2nd language
The state will have to spend an additional $300 million a year to teach English successfully to non-native speakers in Arizona's schools, administrators said Wednesday.
State accused of shortchanging poor kids
While school district consolidation grabs headlines, school and state officials say a little touted plan tucked in Gov. John Baldacci’s supplemental budget will greatly affect schools with large populations of disadvantaged children. That plan, backed by Department of Education Commissioner Susan Gendron, would shift funds districts now receive for disadvantaged children, based on the number of free and reduced meals, to other education expenses.
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