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Subcategory: School Finance and Funding
Gates Foundation Gives $335M for Teacher Quality
Nov 20 2009 - The Boston Globe
Three school districts and a coalition of charter schools have agreed to be test kitchens for some radical ideas for improving teacher quality—from paying new teachers to spend another year practicing before getting their own class to letting student test scores affect teacher pay. In exchange, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is handing them the biggest pile of cash it has spent on education reform in about a decade.
Selling Lessons Online Raises Cash and Questions
Nov 16 2009 - The New York Times (requires free registration)
Thousands of teachers are selling lesson plans online. While some of the money is going toward classroom supplies, some teachers are spending it on themselves, leading school officials to question who owns material developed for public school classrooms.
Ford Foundation Gives $100 Million to Reform Urban High Schools
Nov 10 2009 - Los Angeles Times
The New York-based organization pledges the funds to seven cities, including Los Angeles, to research and improve teacher quality, student assessment, and school funding, among other things.
Ford Foundation Gives $100 Million to Reform Urban High Schools
Nov 10 2009 - Los Angeles Times
The New York-based organization pledges the funds to seven cities, including Los Angeles, to research and improve teacher quality, student assessment, and school funding, among other things.
After Complaints, Gates Foundation Opens Education Aid Offer to All States
Oct 29 2009 - The New York Times (requires free registration)
Some officials complained that the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation was trying to handpick the winners of the Department of Education's $4 billion grant competition, known as Race to the Top. After some reflection, the foundation last month broadened its offer to include all states that are competing for the money and can prove they share the foundation's views about education reform by signing an eight-point checklist.
Duncan Scolds Hawaii on School Furloughs
Oct 27 2009 - The Wall Street Journal
Hawaii schools drew a stern rebuke from Washington on Friday, the first of 17 furlough days planned for the school year, amid concerns that billions of dollars in federal aid won't be enough to prevent further classroom cuts across the U.S.
Officials: 250,000 Teaching Jobs Aided by Stimulus
Oct 19 2009 - The Boston Globe
The Obama administration says spending aimed at boosting the economy has created or saved 250,000 teaching or other education jobs this year.
States, Districts Feel Stimulus-Reporting Strain
Oct 15 2009 - Education Week
Faced with their first reporting deadlines for economic-stimulus aid to education, school districts are toiling over how every stimulus penny has been spent so far and how many jobs have been saved—numbers that will be scrutinized not just by the public, but by government auditors as well.
Teachers Benefit from Job-Saving Stimulus Spending
Oct 13 2009 - The Boston Globe
Teachers appear to have benefited most from the effort to save jobs with the $787 billion recovery package, which sent billions of dollars to states that were on the verge of ordering heavy layoffs in education.
California Schools Chief Urges Schools to Compete in Disney's Environmental Challenge Contest
Sep 16 2009 - Imperial Valley News
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell announced the California Department of Education is collaborating with The Walt Disney Company and the K-12 Alliance of state and federal agencies on the Disney's Planet Challenge contest.
Blow to National Merit Scholarships
Sep 2 2009 - Inside Higher Ed
The University of Texas at Austin is ending participation in the National Merit Scholarship Program, the largest single campus departure in years from the program. The university plans to shift the funds to need-based aid.
Per-Student Spending Gaps Wider Than Known
Sep 1 2009 - The Washington Post (requires free registration)
Private schools without religious affiliation spend almost twice as much per student as their public and Catholic counterparts and more than double that of other Christian schools nationwide, according to a new study.
Leveling the NSF Playing Field
Aug 31 2009 - Inside Higher Ed
The 2007 American COMPETES Act asked the National Science Board to weigh the pros and cons in reassessing the cost sharing policies of the National Science Foundation, and the board issued a report Friday that calls for ending the practice of "voluntary" cost sharing in all circumstances, while continuing "mandatory" contributions in a small number of industry-focused federal programs as recommended by an interim report the board issued last year.
Rockwood District's Mobile Science Lab is Out of This World
Aug 24 2009 - St. Louis Dispatch
The mobile lab in Rockwood, Missouri—thought to be the only one in the state owned by a school district—is new this year. It will be used by 9,700 students in kindergarten through fifth grade at Rockwood's 19 elementary schools. Each student will visit the mobile lab four times a year. The mobile lab is part of an elementary science curriculum overhaul that's saving the district money. It's meant to get students away from textbooks and get them working harder with their hands—and brains.
Senate Budget Panel OKs Slim Boost for Education
Jul 30 2009 - Education Week
After a major windfall in the federal economic-stimulus law, K-12 education would see just a modest boost in funding in fiscal 2010 under a measure approved yesterday by the U.S. Senate subcommittee that oversees education spending.
Census: Feds Contributed Little to Schools in 2007
Jul 29 2009 - Education Week
Per pupil spending in public schools varies widely rom state to state, but the federal government ontributes comparatively little to K–12 education, according to a Census report released Monday.
Hard Times: School Budgets Dip, Class Sizes Grow
Jul 27 2009 - The Boston Globe
Like a seesaw on the school playground, falling state budgets are pushing class sizes higher. The recession is forcing districts to lay off teachers even as the economic stimulus pumps billions of dollars into schools. As a result, classrooms across the country will be more crowded when school starts in the fall.
Easing a College Financial Aid Headache
Jun 25 2009 - The New York Times (requires free registration)
The Obama administration is moving to simplify the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or Fafsa, a notoriously complicated form that asks students seeking financial aid for college as many as 153 questions.
Teacher Incentive Fund Addresses Three Key Issues
Jun 24 2009 - EducationNews.org
The Teacher Incentive Fund has the potential to attract and retain effective teachers in high-poverty schools, by offering incentives based on performance, and spur changes across the country in how teachers are compensated.
Schools Suffer Despite Stimulus Funding
Jun 17 2009 - eSchool News
The nearly $100 billion for education in the federal stimulus package is helping school districts staunch the bleeding as the recession gashes their operating budgets. But though state and school district leaders from coast to coast say they're grateful for the additional money, many say it isn't nearly enough to meet their needs.
South Carolina Supreme Court Orders Governor to Apply for Stimulus Money
Jun 5 2009 - The Chronicle of Higher Education
The South Carolina Supreme Court ruled yesterday that Governor Mark Sanford must apply for $700-million in federal stimulus money for the state's public schools and higher education.
Duncan Wants Title I Dollars to Drive Reform
May 12 2009 - U.S. Department of Education
Education Secretary Arne Duncan on Monday told a leading think tank that the Obama administration is changing the federal Title I program to aggressively drive reform in schools that need it the most.
Stimulus Money May Fund Summer School, Teacher Pay
Apr 24 2009 - Yahoo! News
Education Secretary Arne Duncan has some suggestions for how schools can spend their windfall from the economic stimulus law, including summer school and extra pay for teachers to coach struggling colleagues.
Tracking the Recession: Tuition Programs in Danger
Apr 21 2009 - Stateline.org
The future of a popular program in 19 states that allows parents to prepay college tuition at public schools is shaky because of recent stock market losses and a wave of tuition increases.
California First to Get Stimulus Money for Schools
Apr 20 2009 - Yahoo! News
Education Secretary Arne Duncan on Friday released nearly $4 billion to California, the first state to benefit from a special fund for states that was created by the economic stimulus law.
Schools' 'Money Is Falling Off the Truck'
Apr 13 2009 - The Washington Post (requires free registration)
Educators across the country are counting on a federal stimulus windfall to prevent teacher layoffs and improve schools. But while Washington is giving, some state and local governments are taking away.
Public Money for Private Schools?
Mar 23 2009 - Charlotte Observer
South Carolina State Senator Robert Ford is putting a new face on the long-running fight over whether to spend public education dollars to pay for private schools. To the dismay of his African American colleagues, the Charleston Democrat is hawking a bill that would give students a publicly paid scholarship or tuition grant to go to a private school.
Glimmer of Hope for Student Aid in a Bad Economy
Mar 19 2009 - USA Today
True, it's not a great time financially to be going or sending a kid to college. But from the success of a bailout to the federal student loan system, to the tuition "deals" some colleges are offering, there's more good news out there on college costs and financial aid than some families recognize.
U.S. to Nation’s Schools: Spend Fast, Keep Receipts
Mar 10 2009 - The New York Times (requires free registration)
Arne Duncan, the Secretary of Education, sent a message to the nation's school officials last week: Heads up! We’ll be sending you billions of dollars by month's end. Spend the money quickly but wisely. And keep receipts; we'll be asking.
State Funding Shortage Keeps Schools From Science, Math Program
Feb 6 2009 - The Washington Post (requires free registration)
A shortage of state funding has prevented three Germantown, Maryland, elementary schools from joining an enrichment program that encourages interest among minorities and girls in careers in science, engineering, and mathematics.
Bill Would Offer School Vouchers to All Students
Feb 4 2009 - Atlanta Journal Constitution
Georgia would be the first state to offer vouchers to all public schools students under a Republican plan introduced in the state Senate on Monday. The bill would allot parents about $5,000 in taxpayer money to use toward private school tuition. Senate Bill 90 also would allow parents to switch their children from one public school to another.
House OKs Record $142 Billion for Education
Jan 29 2009 - eSchool News
The U.S. House of Representatives approved a historically huge $819 billion stimulus bill on Jan. 28 that includes some $142 billion for education as part of the Obama administration's plan to revive a badly ailing economy.
Gates Foundation to Give $22M for Education
Jan 26 2009 - eSchool News
In its efforts to ensure that students graduate from high school ready for college and success in the future workplace, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has announced more than $22 million in new grants to support the development of data systems and research initiatives in K-12 education.
School Officials Want a Cut of Federal Bailout
Jan 13 2009 - USA Today
If banks, insurance companies, and automakers are getting a piece of Washington's bailout largesse, why not cash-strapped schools? That's the thinking of officials at a few hard-pressed school systems, who have set wheels in motion to get a share of the $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Program, or TARP, intended for ailing financial institutions, and the economic stimulus package now before Congress.
Schwarzenegger Seeks Education Cuts
Jan 6 2009 - Sacramento Bee
California schools could eliminate a week of instruction and increase class sizes next year under Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's new plan for solving the state's budget crisis. Vowing to give schools maximum flexibility to cut costs, the proposal also would allow districts to eliminate one of two science courses required for high school graduation.
Governors Make Pitch to Obama for Stimulus Money
Dec 12 2008 - Education Week
As the federal government and the incoming Obama administration consider an economic-stimulus package, governors are making the case that education and health care are in danger of significant cuts without a cash infusion to states.
State Budget Gaps Balloon to $97 Billion
Dec 9 2008 - Stateline.org
Still reeling from high gas prices this summer and plummeting retirement savings this fall, Americans will soon be feeling the pinch in other ways—from increased tuition to potentially higher taxes, as states try to close some $97 billion in budget gaps over the next two years.
Ads on Tests Add Up for Teacher
Dec 2 2008 - USA Today
Tom Farber gives a lot of tests. So when the calculus teacher found his photocopying budget cut, he started selling ads on his test papers.
Support for Magnet Schools Waning Despite Their Success
Nov 26 2008 - Los Angeles Times
Support for magnet schools has foundered nationwide even though they continue to shine compared to other types of public schools, including charters, researchers concluded in a report released today.
Rhodes Scholars Named for '09
Nov 25 2008 - USA Today
Thirty-two men and women from across the United States have been selected as Rhodes Scholars for 2009, the scholarship trust announced Sunday.
Programs Help with Tuition in Exchange for Public Service
Nov 18 2008 - USA Today
Eager to encourage public service and give debt-burdened graduates more options, several colleges and universities are trying new initiatives that pay tuition in exchange for students helping Uncle Sam.
So Goes the Nation
Nov 17 2008 - Inside Higher Ed
In what appears a harbinger of things to come for higher education, the governors of California and New York rolled out plans that would dramatically reduce funding for colleges and universities.
School Districts Caught in a Squeeze
Nov 12 2008 - USA Today
School superintendents nationwide say the struggling economy threatens to reverse progress they have made in closing historic achievement gaps as schools face trimmed budgets now—and possibly worse ones next fall.
California Education Leaders Told to Brace for Big Budget Cuts
Oct 29 2008 - The Los Angeles Times
Educators say Arnold Schwarzenegger told them to prepare for immediate cuts of $2 billion to $4 billion. They say the governor also plans to keep pushing for a sales tax hike.
Wall Street Crisis Hits Higher Education
Oct 6 2008 - eSchool News
Schools and colleges across the nation are scrambling to develop new plans to pay their bills after an investment fund that serves about 1,000 colleges and private schools last week partially froze withdrawals amid the current credit crunch.
NSF and EPA Establish Two Centers for Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology
Sep 18 2008 - National Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have made awards to establish two Centers for the Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology. The centers will study how nanomaterials interact with the environment and with living systems, and will translate this knowledge into risk assessment and mitigation strategies useful in the development of nanotechnology.
Intel Salutes Six "Schools of Distinction"
Sep 12 2008 - eSchool News
As winners of this year's Schools of Distinction Awards, the six schools chosen by Intel Corp. for their exemplary math and science instruction have one characteristic in common: They all integrate real-world experiences into the curriculum.
Georgia Superintendent "Smarter than a 5th Grader"
Sep 9 2008 - USA Today
Georgia schools Superintendent Kathy Cox proved she is smarter than a 5th grader, winning a million for her school system on a popular game show broadcast Friday night.
NSF Funds New Center to Bring Together Biologists, Mathematicians
Sep 5 2008 - National Science Foundation
Biologists and mathematicians from around the world will take part in a new institute dedicated to bringing top researchers together to find creative solutions to pressing problems in both scientific fields. Known as the National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis, the center is located at the University of Tennessee Knoxville.
Intel Chair Calls for Ed Reform, STEM Innovation
Aug 26 2008 - eSchool News
In his keynote address at the annual Intel Developer Forum, Craig Barnett said, "The future is dependent on the education of the workforce, but we don't spend enough time investing in education, incentivizing investment. The lack of a research and development (R&D) tax credit is very revealing. Our government refuses to acknowledge that investing in R&D for the future is important."
Universities Detail Declines in Federal R&D Funding for Science and Engineering Fields
Aug 22 2008 - National Science Foundation
Federal funding of academic science and engineering research and development failed to outpace inflation for the second year in a row, according to recently released fiscal year 2007 data from the National Science Foundation.
Could Bumpy Economy Lead to Slumping Education?
Aug 19 2008 - USA Today
Harder times and higher fuel prices are following kids back to school this fall. Children will walk farther to the bus stop, pay more for lunch, and study from old textbooks. Bills are mounting for air conditioning and heating, for cafeteria food and for classroom supplies. The extra costs present a tricky math problem: Where can schools subtract to keep costs under control?
President Bush Signs Legislation to Renew the Higher Education Act
Aug 15 2008 - The Chronicle of Higher Education
President Bush signed legislation to renew the Higher Education Act, the major law governing federal student aid. Among its provisions, the law creates dozens of grant programs for colleges and students while imposing hundreds of new reporting requirements on institutions. It cracks down on conflicts of interest in student-loan programs, presses institutions and states to rein in tuition, and makes it easier for for-profit colleges to become, or to remain, eligible to award federal student aid.
Four-Day Week on the Rise in Education
Aug 14 2008 - eSchool News
School districts and universities are taking cues from the business world and instituting four-day weeks, a trend that some say could become the norm as gas prices and energy costs continue to rise.
Fuel Prices Force Schools to Weigh Class, Staff Cuts
Jul 30 2008 - USA Today
Fuel and energy costs are rising so quickly for the USA's public school districts that nearly one in seven is considering cutting back to four-day weeks this fall. One in four is considering limits on athletics and other extracurricular activities, and nearly one in three is eliminating teaching jobs.
Report: Give Schools $20 Billion Upgrade
May 1 2008 - eSchool News
Education needs $20 billion for infrastructure, according to a report released by the Washington, D.C.-based Economic Policy Institute (EPI). To narrow the digital divide, funding for up-to-date video and voice technology in schools should be a focus of federal and state decision makers from coast to coast.
AT&T Launches $100M Effort to Stem Dropouts
Apr 22 2008 - eSchool News
AT&T unveiled a $100 million initiative designed to curb the country's high school dropout rate, which has reached critical levels in recent years, according to education experts.
NEF Offers One Million Scholarships to Fight Recession
Mar 14 2008 - EducationNews.org
The National Education Foundation announced a nationwide initiative to provide scholarships to a million low and middle income individuals affected by the oncoming recession.
Report Describes EETT's Impact on Ed Tech
Mar 11 2008 - eSchool News
Significant cuts in federal educational technology funding have forced states and school systems across the nation to scale back and prioritize their ed-tech initiatives, according to the State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA). In adapting to these cuts and making hard choices, states largely have focused their efforts on professional development and leadership to sustain school IT programs.
Science Is Key to a Progressive Education
Feb 15 2008 - Star-Gazette
Many corporate leaders are pushing for increased focus and rigor in our K-8 science curriculum.
Ohio Launches New STEM Initiative through $12 Million Gates Grant
Feb 1 2008 - Education Week (requires free registration)
In the latest state-level effort to promote science and technology education, Ohio has launched a new public-private partnership intended to connect 100,000 students over the next 10 years to high-tech careers aimed at helping to fuel the economy. The Ohio STEM Learning Network will begin with five regionally located schools focused on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, or STEM, skills. The schools will serve middle and high school students from low-income and minority communities. Ohio is among a number of states where policymakers—at a time of increasing economic gloom—have latched onto STEM initiatives as a key to boosting U.S. competitiveness around the world and providing corporations with top-notch employees.
Microsoft Launches Online Teacher Network
Jan 25 2008 - eSchool News
Teachers across the United States will have an opportunity to communicate and collaborate with top-notch educators from all over the world through Microsoft Corp.'s Innovative Teachers Network (ITN), a new online forum that promotes the exchange of ideas and methods on how best to incorporate technology into the classroom effectively. The ITN is part of Microsoft's Partners in Learning (PiL) initiative, a program that gives educators the resources, training, and content they need to complement classroom technology and allow students to reach their full potential. In this newest boost of funding to PiL, Microsoft officials say educators will see a focus on programs that can support innovative students.
Cash for School Grades? It Works.
Jan 22 2008 - Christian Science Monitor
A Cornell University study has shown the practice of paying underachieving students to take challenging classes they would never imagine taking can work. The study examined the Advanced Placement Incentive Program (APIP). The program consists of paying $500 to low-income Texas students in minority school districts who pass an exam for an Advanced Placement course. APIP schools showed a 30% increase in the number of graduates who scored better than 1100 and 24 on the SAT and ACT college admission tests, respectively. The report also found the number of students admitted to colleges from APIP schools increased by eight percent.
Teachers Go to Web for Funding
Dec 15 2007 - Baltimore Sun (Maryland)
Parents and other members of the public can help teachers fund school projects through a website called donorschoose.org. Launched in 2000, the site enables educators to pitch projects or list equipment needs that members of the public can donate money toward. Examples of funded requests have included science and math kits, reading supplies, and technology equipment. More than 800,000 students have benefited from donations sent from all 50 states.
Atlanta Schools Get $22 Million for Math, Science Education
Oct 31 2007 - Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Georgia)
More students in Atlanta, Georgia, will be able to better compete in the global economy, thanks to a donation from the General Electric (GE) Company’s charitable foundation. The organization has donated $22 million to Atlanta Public Schools to boost math and science education. Local school administrators plan to use the grant to develop a “globally competitive” curriculum for K–12 students and enhance educators’ math and science lessons. Atlanta is the fifth school system in the country to be admitted to GEs College Bound District program.
High-Tech Chiefs Establish Fund to Buoy Public Education in State
Oct 24 2007 - Boston Globe (Requires free registration)
Concerned the United States is falling behind its global competitors in producing scientists and engineers, high-tech chief executives have started an effort to increase Massachusetts’ K–12 public education system by raising funds to support pilot schools and advanced placement programs. The Fund for World Class Schools will have a strong focus on preparing and supporting teachers in the classroom. An advisory board comprised of technology chief executives and a teacher will guide how money from the fund is spent.
House Draft Would Overhaul Ed-Tech Funding
Sep 11 2007 - eSchool News (Requires free registration)
Educational technology advocates are praising the release of another House proposal that is part of renewing the No Child Left Behind Act. The proposal would involve directing funds toward training teachers in the use of technology and would help schools with low-income students purchase computers and software. The House education committee welcomes feedback on the draft proposal. Comments can be e-mailed to ESEA.Comments@mail.house.gov. The deadline is September 14.
Math, Science Schooling to Receive $13.2 Million
Aug 31 2007 - Arkansas Democrat Gazette
Arkansas plans to use a $13.2 grant to help boost students’ test scores on Advanced Placement exams and produce more mathematicians and scientists. Arkansas was selected as one of the first states to receive the money because it had “the leadership and commitment of lawmakers, educators, foundation heads, and business leaders,” said Tom Luce, chief executive officer of the National Math and Science Initiative, a nonprofit organization that awarded the grant. Virginia is the only other state named a grant recipient. Other states will make announcements regarding the grant during the next two weeks.
U.S. Spends Average $8,701 Per Pupil on Education
May 25 2007 - Reuters
The United States spent an average of $8,701 per pupil to educate its children in 2005, the Census Bureau reported on May 24, noting that some states paid more than twice as much per student as others. New York was the biggest spender on education at $14,119 per student, with New Jersey second at $13,800, and the District of Columbia third at $12,979, the Census Bureau said. Seven of the top 10 education spenders were Northeastern states. The states with the lowest spending were Utah, Arizona, Idaho, Mississippi and Oklahoma. The 10 states with the lowest education spending were in the West or South.
Feds Want to Shake Up How Migrant Education is Funded
May 7 2007 - Salt Lake Tribune (Utah)
The Bush administration believes persistent flaws and possible fraud undermine migrant education funding. So now, the Education Department wants to change how school districts receive their federal aid. The move could alarm some teachers, but also help school districts in states such as California, Texas, and Florida, home to more than half of all migrant students. The Education Department’s proposal is open for public comment through June 17.
Schools Try Radical Ways to Help Students Pay for College
Apr 30 2007 - Christian Science Monitor
Amid the climate of skyrocketing college tuitions and convoluted aid programs, a handful of universities are introducing simple and transparent financial aid programs. Among them: across the board tuition cuts, loan caps, and completely eliminating tuition for some.
Billionaires Start $60 Million Schools Effort
Apr 25 2007 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
Eli Broad and Bill Gates, two of the most important philanthropists in American public education, have pumped more than $2 billion into improving schools. But now, dissatisfied with the pace of change, they are joining forces for a $60 million foray into politics in an effort to vault education high onto the agenda of the 2008 presidential race. The effort, known as Strong American Schools, will focus on three main areas: a call for stronger, more consistent curriculum standards nationwide; lengthening the school day and year; and improving teacher quality through merit pay and other measures.
How Safe are College Campuses?
Apr 18 2007 - Christian Science Monitor
University officials are starting to ask tough questions about what they can learn from the worst shooting in United States history. Many colleges adopted new security plans and procedures in the wake of the 1999 Columbine high school and other mass shootings. But preventing, and reacting to such attacks, poses a daunting challenge to campuses that treasure open environments and often-bucolic settings that encompass hundreds of buildings.
Education Chief Orders Ethics Check
Apr 13 2007 - Washington Post (Requires free registration)
Education Secretary Margaret Spellings has launched reviews of the department’s ethics and financial disclosure policies in response to questions raised through far-ranging investigations of the student loan industry, according to a statement issued by the agency. Spellings also asked for the resignation of the director of student financial services at John Hopkins University, from a committee that is drafting new student loan regulations for the department. Spellings’ actions are part of a fall out from an expanding probe of the $85 billion-a-year student loan industry.
Charter School Effort Gets $65 Million Lift
Mar 20 2007 - Washington Post (Requires free registration)
The charter school movement, begun 16 years ago, as an alternative to struggling public schools, will today make its strongest claim on mainstream American education when a national group announces the most successful fundraising campaign in the movement’s history, $65 million to create 42 schools in Houston, Texas. The money, which comes from some of the nation’s foremost donors, would make the Knowledge is Power program the largest charter school organization in the country.
Budgeting Inequities Can Hurt Students
Mar 5 2007 - News Journal (Wilmington, Delaware)
Students on the lagging side of the achievement gap need more help, and thus more resources to succeed. But many states don’t fund education that way. Instead, states including Delaware, use complicated systems that group students and provide districts with financing for those groups. The districts then decide how to distribute that money among students. The districts receive more for students with learning disabilities, but often receive nothing from the state for low-income children, gifted students or others with special needs. Vision 2015 proposes changing that practice.
Donations to Colleges Up Sharply Last Year
Feb 22 2007 - Boston Globe (Requires free registration)
Prosperous alumni helped make 2006 a record fundraising year for colleges and universities, according to a new survey. Stanford University ranked first on the list with $911 million followed by Harvard University at $595 million. Alumni donations account for about 30% of giving to higher education. Ann Kaplan, the survey’s director, noted that the strong economy played a role, but universities also were asking more aggressively for money as part of formal fundraising campaigns.
Bush Seeks Teacher Merit Pay Funds
Feb 13 2007 - Washington Times
President Bush wants more money in the 2008 budget for a fund that encourages performance-based pay systems for teachers. The administration is asking for $199 million for its Teacher Incentive Fund, which was created in 2006. The fund provides financial incentives for teachers and principals who improve student achievement in high poverty schools and helps to recruit top teachers to these schools. Rewards are left up to the states to decide and can include bonuses or raises.
New Spending for No Child Left Behind
Feb 6 2007 - Washington Post (Requires free registration)
President Bush has proposed $56 billion in Education Department funding, level with his proposal for the current fiscal year, but 3% less than what Democrats are expected to approve for this year. The president is also seeking about $1 billion in new spending related to the landmark No Child Left Behind Act.
Cutting Provisions in Union Contracts Could Free Funds
Jan 8 2007 - Washington Post (Requires free registration)
U.S. public schools could have as much as $77 billion more a year to improve teaching if they reduced spending on seniority pay increases, teacher's aides, class size limits and other measures often found in teacher union contracts, a new study contends. The report from the Washington–based think tank Education Sector analyzed research on eight common provisions of contracts that require schools to spend substantial sums but have what the report called "a weak or inconsistent relationship with student learning."
Report: School Aid Not Distributed Evenly
Dec 21 2006 - CNN.com
Poor students are shortchanged by federal and state policies, according to a new report. The report’s authors note that when Congress reviews federal education spending in the coming year, lawmakers should reconsider how they distribute funds for poor students.
Back to School: Education Booms Into an $850 Billion Enterprise
Aug 30 2006 - Post-Gazette (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
In the fourth installment of a weeklong series on trends in public education, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette discusses how spending in public education involves more than just buying school supplies. Experts note the majority of education spending goes toward salaries for school employees. Funds are also used for test preparation and curriculum materials, as well as for training efforts.
Schools Debate Classroom Spending Rules
Aug 16 2006 - News & Observer (Raleigh, North Carolina)
Texas is one of three states that will soon require schools to spend at least 65% of their budgets on direct classroom costs such as teachers and textbooks. Several other states also are moving toward adopting the measure. The idea is to spend more money on students without raising taxes. Critics argue that shifting more money into the classroom will mean cuts to other programs, like nursing, counseling, and transportation.
Don't Pay Kids to Flee Schools
Aug 14 2006 - USA Today
Education Secretary Margaret Spellings is pushing a new approach: give the children of persistently failing schools vouchers to attend private and religious schools. The $100 million program, which needs approval from Congress, would be available to students in schools that failed to make progress for five straight years. But some observers say there are better ways to spend that $100 million.
U.S. Gives Charter Schools a Big Push in New Orleans
Jun 13 2006 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
Education Secretary Margaret Spellings says $24 million in federal aid has been awarded to Louisiana for the development of charter schools, more than doubling what the state has already received to help create such schools in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Louisiana has at least 45 charter schools with the highest concentration in New Orleans. Spellings hopes the infusion of money will help expand existing charter schools and open 20 to 30 more schools across the state. Whether the schools are academically beneficial has yet to be seen. Those evaluations are expected later this summer.
Schools With Displaced Students Get Aid
May 12 2006 - Boston Globe (Requires free registration)
Education Secretary Margaret Spellings says schools with students displaced by last year’s hurricanes have received about $1.2 billion and more funding could be on the way. Spellings noted federal education officials hope Congress would give school districts about $6,000 per student, up from the current $4,000. But some educators question if that will be enough money.
Eligibility Criteria Announced for New College Aid Program
May 3 2006 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
The Department of Education has announced which low-income students might be eligible this fall for a share of $790 million under a major new aid program. The department also estimated it would disburse about 500,00 of the grants, which Congress created to encourage science, math, and language study. In establishing the grants, members of Congress said that for students entering their first or second year of college to be eligible, they would need to complete a “rigorous secondary school program of study,” but left it to the Department of Education to spell out the details.
States Sign on to '65% Solution' for Funding Schools
Apr 11 2006 - USA Today
A proposal to encourage school systems to trim their budgets by placing 65% of their dollars directly into classrooms has found support in some states and is gaining momentum in others. Versions of the “65% solution” have been approved by four states. Another eight states are considering the idea. School groups, including teacher unions, oppose the concept, noting it “invites lawmakers to squeeze school budgets without considering all that schools must provide.”
Educational Spending By States Plunges
Mar 22 2006 - Detroit News
The rapid decline in real spending by states, per student, on higher education is documented in a new report being released today by State Higher Education Executive Officers. State and local support amounted to $5,833 per student nationwide in 2005 down from $7,121 in fiscal 2001, according to the report. The change is notable because states’ financial pictures are generally improving and higher education appropriations are increasing after years of cutbacks. The study comes at a time when higher education leaders are urgently trying to call the public’s attention to what they see as the de facto privatization of public higher education.
Colleges Open Minority Aid to All Comers
Mar 14 2006 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
Colleges and universities nationwide are opening hundreds of thousands of dollars in fellowships, scholarships, and other programs to white students that were previously created for minorities in an effort to avoid threats of litigation and pressure. “They are all trying to minimize their legal exposure,” said Susan Sturm, a Columbia University law professor. The institutions are reacting to two 2003 Supreme Court cases on using race in admissions at the University of Michigan. Although the cases did not ban using race in admissions to higher education, they did leave the state of the law unclear, and with the changing composition of the court, some school officials fear legal challenges.
Online Colleges Receive a Boost From Congress
Mar 1 2006 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
Colleges will no longer be required to deliver at least half their courses on a campus instead of online to qualify for federal student aid, thanks to a budget bill change by Congress. The change is expected to be of enormous value to the commercial education industry. Although both for-profit colleges and traditional ones have expanded their Internet and online offerings in recent years, only a few dozen universities are fully Internet-based, and most of them are for-profit ones.
State Surpluses a Boon to Education
Feb 22 2006 - Stateline.org
Facing projected budget surpluses, state leaders are considering their boldest education spending agendas this year. State governors have plans to invest in higher education and raise salaries for public school teachers. New Mexico, Alabama, and Georgia are among the states that want to boost teacher salaries. California, Florida, and Minnesota all have plans to ease tuition rates for college students. “It’s looking like it’s going to be an even better year all around for almost every state, with the exception being the Gulf Coast and Michigan, which at best will have a flat year in education funding,” said Mike Griffith, education finance expert for the Education Commission of the States.
Donors Give All-Time Record to Colleges
Feb 16 2006 - Boston Globe (Requires free registration)
Donors gave an all-time record of at least $25.6 billion to colleges and universities in the United States in 2005, an increase of nearly five percent from 2004, according to an annual survey by the Council for Aid to Education. Stanford University raised $603.6 million, more than any other university in 2004. The University of Wisconsin, Madison, was second with $595.2 million in donations. Wisconsin was followed by Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Cornell University. The top 10 schools alone accounted for about half of the national growth for schools.
Student Funding Idea Floated
Feb 8 2006 - The Seattle Times
A federal commission charged with examining the future of higher education is voicing mixed reaction to the idea of giving students—not colleges or universities—public money. Each student would receive an amount of money to spend at an institution, while the institution itself would begin charging the full cost of tuition. Charles Mitchell, chancellor of the Seattle Community College District, expressed cautious support for any system that would raise tuition for those who could afford it while providing increased subsidies for those who could not. But University of Washington President Mark Emmert said his staff had spent “a great deal of time” assessing such a model and rejected it.
A Leaner Year is Proposed for Schools
Feb 7 2006 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
Although President Bush called for a boost to math and science education in his State of the Union address, the president’s budget for the coming year would cut the Education Department’s discretionary budget in the current year. Among the programs that would be eliminated include vocational education and several programs to improve the college prospects of disadvantaged students. A spokesman for the Center on Education Policy said the president’s budget “shows that Bush’s talk about increasing competitiveness is phony.” Education Secretary Margaret Spellings noted the president’s commitment to education “remained strong.”
How Much Education Funding Should Go Directly to Classrooms?
Jan 25 2006 - Christian Science Monitor
An organization called First Class Education is pushing for all 50 states and the District of Columbia to reallocate school spending so that at least 65 cents on every dollar goes directly into the classroom—on books and teacher pay—by the end of 2008. The idea has already swept through state capitol domes in Texas, Kansas, and Louisiana. Earlier this month, Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue introduced legislation, joining 17 other states that have proposed bills to meet the 65% threshold. Currently, the national average for classroom spending is 61.5 cents on the dollar, according to the National Center for Educational Statistics.
56 Colleges Have Endowments Topping $1B
Jan 23 2006 - Boston Globe (Requires free registration)
A new study shows the number of North American colleges with endowments topping $1 billion has increased to 56, with nine schools joining the elite club. Harvard remains on top with $25.5 billion followed by Yale with $15.2 billion. The wealthiest school per student was Rockefeller University in New York followed by Olin College in Massachusetts. The National Association of College and University Business Officers surveyed 746 institutions for the study.
College Aid Plan Widens U.S. Role in High Schools
Jan 22 2006 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
When Republican senators quietly tucked a major new student aid program into the budget bill last month, they not only approved a $3.75 billion initiative. They also set up what could be an important shift in American education: for the first time the federal government will rate the academic rigor of the nation's 18,000 high schools. The measure, backed by the Bush administration and expected to pass the House when it returns next month, would provide $750 to $1,300 grants to low-income college freshmen and sophomores who have completed "a rigorous secondary school program of study" and larger amounts to juniors and seniors majoring in math, science, and other critical fields.
Here's an Idea: Put 65% of the Money Into Classrooms
Jan 4 2006 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
A new advocacy group is pushing to have school districts spend at least 65% of their operating budgets on classroom instruction. A spokesperson for First Class Education says the goal of the effort is not to reduce school spending, but to shift inefficient expenditures on administration and support services to teachers and students. Three states have already shown support for the idea. But what supporters see as a common-sense proposal, critics view as misguided and misleading.
Universal Preschool Trend Has Critics
Dec 19 2005 - Seattle Times
Across the country, governors and legislators from both parties are pouring money into universal preschool programs. Spending on preK programs is over $2.5 billion nationwide, according to PreK Now, a Washington, D.C.-based advocacy group. But not everyone supports universal preschool. In Oregon and other places where state dollars remain in tight, coveted supply, early childhood education advocates argue universal preschool “misses the point,” noting its more important to provide full-service programs for all of the state’s most disadvantaged children. Preschool supporters say for every dollar spent on preschool education, between $7 and $12, will not have to be spent by states later on for corrections and social services.
Website Provides Direct Hookup Between Schools and Donors
Oct 27 2005 - Los Angeles Times (Requires free registration)
A new form of school philanthropy hit Los Angeles this week—a website where teachers post requests soliciting donations for classroom field trips, books, and supplies that allow people across the nation to choose which campus charity to contribute to. "Our vision is that all Los Angeles public school students, especially those from low-income families, will one day not too long from now have the materials and experiences they need to learn," said Charles Best, founder of the website. Schools in New York, South Carolina, and other states have also benefited from the website.
Administration Working on Education Aid Plan
Sep 6 2005 - CNN.com
Federal assistance may soon be on the way to states and school districts taking in students impacted by Hurricane Katrina. President Bush said he plans to announce details of the program “after a while.” The president also plans to establish a website that will help Americans determine how they can provide aid and support to the school districts taking in hurricane victims. College students who choose not to return to school will be able to temporarily postpone loan payments. For students who have transferred to other colleges, Bush plans to provide loan extensions.
Democrats Urge More Education Spending
Aug 29 2005 - USA Today
As the new school year begins, Democratic Sen. Edward Kennedy is challenging Republicans to help lobby for more federal funding for education. “We need our Republican colleagues to join us in giving education the high priority that it deserves at the national level,” Kennedy observed, adding the “stakes are too high for us to allow political gamesmanship to get in the way.” Kennedy noted Democrats want more money for teacher training, small class sizes, early childhood education, and college aid.
Study Shows Financial Inequities in Charter, Traditional Schools
Aug 23 2005 - Pioneer Press (St. Paul, Minnesota)
A new report by a pro-charter group shows charter schools operate with less funding per student than traditional public schools. For instance, charter schools receive an average of $4,800 per student in funding compared to the $7,000 traditional schools receive in California. One of the report’s authors noted the study was a “first salvo” to a possible broad lobbying campaign by charter supporters for financing equity.
Federal Spending Increases, But More Schools Will Get Less Money for Low-Income Students
Jul 4 2005 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
A new analysis of federal money that public schools receive for low-income students shows that a record number of the nation’s school districts will receive less funding in the upcoming academic year compared to the previous one. For the 2005–2006 school year, spending under the Department of Education’s Title I program is increasing by 3.2 percent, to $12.6 billion. However, because of population shifts, growing numbers of poor children, new census data and complex formulas that determine how money is divided, more than two-thirds of the districts will not receive as much funding as before.
State Schools' Debt Burden Heftiest in U.S.
Jun 22 2005 - Indianapolis Star
A new federal report shows Indiana leads the nation in the percentage of school spending to pay off interest on long-term debt. Most of the spending is connected to school construction. Indiana education officials contend the state’s share of interest includes borrowing funds to cover pay for retired teachers. They also warn against comparing states, which vary in the way they pay for school construction projects. Nevada ranked second for the percentage of school spending to pay off interest on long-term debt, while West Virginia was at the bottom of the list.
Census: Nation's Public Schools in the Red
Mar 18 2005 - Kansas City Star (Requires free registration)
The nation’s public school systems are sinking further into debt, according to a Census Bureau report. Several school districts have huge debts because they need to pay for new buildings to accommodate growing student populations. Other districts are struggling to find funding to fix older buildings or hire more teachers. The report also found spending for public elementary and secondary school systems increased about four percent to $453 billion in 2003. That figure includes more than $38 billion alone for construction costs.
Costs of Education Slope Sharply Upward
Feb 15 2005 - Washington Post (Requires free registration)
President Bush has proposed a $56 billion education budget. But observers say the spending plan has strengths and weaknesses in regards to federal support for education. Bush sees in the numbers a strengthened commitment in funding for the No Child Left Behind Act, and eliminating monies for the Perkins Loan program and adding those funds to Pell Grants. Bush wants to increase each grant by a $100 a year for five years. Critics, however, see the numbers as a weakening of federal support at the expense of low-and middle-income students. They add that higher education costs are going up by $500 a year, which is more than the proposed grant increase.
A Cut for Schools, a First for Bush
Feb 8 2005 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
President Bush is seeking a net reduction in financing for the Department of Education for the first time in his administration. Reductions in the spending plan include eliminating funding for the Safe and Drug-Free Schools program. About $2 billion would be cut from other high school programs. The budget includes $269 million for math and science partnerships intended to improve the skills of students deemed at risk. Democrats have denounced the spending plan, calling it, “the most anti-student, anti-education budget since the Republicans tried to abolish the Department of Education.”
School Funding Caught Up in Tax Reform Battles
Feb 2 2005 - Stateline.org
Lawmakers in several states are considering changing the way elementary and high schools are funded. But efforts to fix school finance are liable to run aground in states where the remedy necessitates tax reform. A spokesman for the Center for Education Policy at Vanderbilt’s Peabody College of Education notes that overhauling tax policies to fix school funding deficiencies is difficult because few legislatures accomplish significant reforms unless they are forced by litigation or severe budget crises.
Quality Counts 2005 Examines Changes in School Finance
Jan 5 2005 - Education Week
A new Education Week report shows the nation’s school finance systems are in transition. Quality Counts 2005: No Small Change, Targeting Money Toward Student Performance examines what states and the District of Columbia are doing to pay for public education and how to focus the dollars more squarely on student achievement. The report also explores how states and the District of Columbia raise revenues for public education; distribute those dollars across districts; and track school expenditures. Other areas studied included standards and accountability, efforts to improve teacher quality, school climate, and equity of resources.
In Many States, More is Spent on Health Care for the Poor than on Schools
Dec 12 2004 - Salt Lake Tribune
Governors and budget officials nationwide are facing a funding crisis that pits student education against health care for the poor. A report by the National Association of State Budget Officers shows in 22 states Medicaid already has surpassed primary education as the largest expense with no relief in sight. Medicaid’s increasing costs have caught the attention of education advocates, who cite threats to everything from teacher pay to after-school activities.
Congress Trims Money for Science Agency
Nov 30 2004 - New York Times (requires free registration)
Congress has cut the budget for the National Science Foundation, an engine for research in science and technology, just two years after endorsing a plan to double the amount given to the agency. Representative Vernon J. Ehlers, Republican of Michigan, said the cut was "extremely short-sighted" and showed "dangerous disregard for our nation's future." Representative David R. Obey of Wisconsin, the senior Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, said the cut was "the most Luddite provision" in the entire $388 billion omnibus spending bill.
States Dip Heavily Into Leftover Federal Education Money
Oct 6 2004 - CNN.com
New figures show states went on a billion-dollar spending spree in the three months before a Sept. 30 deadline to commit or lose federal education funding. States had to commit to $2.1 billion left over from 2002 by the end of the budget year or lose their right to claim it. Although states do not have to spend the money by the September deadline, they have to earmark the funds toward specific expenses. The Education Department still lists $1.16 billion in unspent money from 2002, including aid for poor or disabled students, according to figures obtained by the Associated Press
Wider Gap Found Between Wealthy and Poor Schools
Oct 6 2004 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
A new report shows the financial gap between poor and wealthy school districts has widened. The Education Trust study revealed high poverty school districts received $868 less per student from state and local funding sources than their counterparts that had few poor students in 2002. “A time like this is when the states would really like to be able to look to the federal government to help lessen the gap,” said Scott Young, senior policy specialist at the National Conference of State Legislatures, adding the report’s findings appear accurate. “But now states have to use their federal money to meet the requirements of No Child Left Behind.”
Edwards' Wife Says Kerry Would Boost Education Funding
Sep 3 2004 - St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Elizabeth Edwards, wife of vice presidential candidate John Edwards, says Democrats would deliver funding for federal education programs—monies that she claims Republicans have failed to provide. Edwards also noted the request for funding the No Child Left Behind Act is “billions less that what the administration originally said the program would cost.” Edwards said Democrats would finance their campaign promises by rolling back President Bush’s tax cuts for workers earning more than $200,000 a year. Bush claims that he has spent more on public education than any other president.
Schools Must Use $2 Billion or Lose It
Jun 29 2004 - CNN
All states, the District of Columbia, and eight U.S. territories are facing a Sept. 30 deadline from the Education Department. By that date, each locality must make plans to spend more than $2 billion in education funds, or be ready to lose it. Federal officials say the move is part of a broader effort to ensure states use the available funds. Funds that are not spent or earmarked for education programs will be returned to the federal treasury.
Poor Schools Sue for Funding
Jun 7 2004 - The Washington Post
Lawyers across the nation are using data generated by the drive for higher standards in education as the basis for class-action lawsuits seeking more funding for poorer school districts. Half the states in the country are involved in litigation regarding education funding, according to experts who monitor the lawsuits. These "educational adequacy" complaints have largely replaced desegregation lawsuits as the focus of legal efforts to ensure equality of opportunity among various social and ethnic groups.
Most Teachers Help Bear the Cost of Class Supplies
Jan 22 2004 - Florida Times-Union
Budget shortfalls are forcing teachers to dig deeper into their pockets for classroom supplies. A 2002 report on teacher buying behavior revealed elementary and middle school educators spend more than $1 billion of their own money on materials every year. The difficult times have resulted in some Florida educators to take advantage of the Teacher Supply Depot, a center that provides free materials to teachers.
State Spending on Colleges Drops for the First Time in 11 Years
Jan 13 2004 - The Chronicle of Higher Education
A new survey shows appropriations for higher education fell to 2.1 percent during the 2003–2004 fiscal year. The decline might be the “single biggest ever,” according to James C. Palmer, an Illinois State University higher education professor, who conducted the survey. Palmer said the decline could be attributed to falling revenues, higher health insurance premiums, and other fiscal challenges. Funding for community colleges nationwide also fell at the same rate as public four-year institutions.
Renewing His Focus on Schools, Bush Proposes Spending Increase
Jan 9 2004 - The New York Times (Requires free registration)
A proposal by President Bush to increase spending on education has drawn criticism from Democrats. Bush plans to seek an additional $1 billion for Title 1 and special education programs as well as additional $138 million for reading initiatives. White House figures also show Bush wants to spend $36.7 billion next year on K–12 education, up from $35.5 billion for the same programs this year. Democrats contend that Bush attempted to cut 46 programs under the No Child Left Behind Act last year.
States Leaving Plenty of School Funds Behind, White House Contends
Jan 9 2004 - San Diego Union-Tribune
Although a range of critics have opposed its funding of education, White House and Education Department officials claim the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and eight territories are sitting on $5.75 billion in unused federal funds from 2000–2002. Officials with the Council of Chief State School Officers say several reasons can help explain why states are not taking advantage of the funds. Among them: Congress is often months late in passing its budget each year and rules that discuss how the federal money can be spent are confusing and restrictive.
States Unable to Help All Struggling Schools
Jan 7 2004 - Education Week
Although the No Child Left Behind Act is requiring more interventions in schools that fail to meet annual test score goals, budget troubles are making it difficult for states to help their most struggling schools. The federal education reform law requires states to offer extra help to students if they don’t meet such goals. States, however, are either eliminating or not expanding existing programs that can help low-performing schools. State policymakers say they hope to help by creating improved assistance programs.
Schools Trim Fiscal Fat, And Then Some
Sep 24 2003 - Education Week
Teachers nationwide have started the school year being asked to accomplish more with less as a result of state-level budget cuts. In Buffalo, New York, for example, the school superintendent has cut 645 jobs from last year’s level of 5,800 employees. In the suburbs of California, students have raised funds for smaller class sizes. Other schools are charging fees for activities and turning to private fundraising programs to help make ends meet.
Bush Defends Financing for Schools
Sep 9 2003 - The New York Times (Requires free registration)
President Bush is countering criticism from Democrats who supported him in passing the No Child Left Behind Act, but claim the president has failed to fully fund the law. Bush recently argued at a campaign stop that he has provided sufficient funding to help schools that are having difficulty meeting the education requirements mandated by the act. Edward M. Kennedy, a Massachusetts Democratic senator noted, however, "those reforms will never happen without increasing the funds needed to pay for them."
Higher Education Spending Defies Study Results
Aug 8 2003 - CNSNews.com
Although federal and state governments have increased their education budgets, several studies show higher per-pupil spending doesn’t help to improve student achievement. Education experts argue that spending priorities focus more on the objectives set by teacher unions rather than quality education.
Lottery Isn't Always a Boon to Schools
Jul 15 2003 - The Christian Science Monitor
States use lottery proceeds to fund schools, but the promised rush of money has yet to be realized, according to this article. Twenty-two states earmark lottery earnings for public school spending. However, the Rev. Richard McGowan, a professor at the Carroll School of Management at Boston College notes, the public may think they are helping schools, but rather citizens are “allowing the state to spend the money in other places.”
Teachers Union Wants States to Sue Feds Over Funding
Jul 3 2003 - The Seattle Times
The National Education Association is recruiting states for a lawsuit to be filed against the federal government. NEA officials allege the government has broken a promise to keep states from bearing any costs of the requirements mandated by the No Child Left Behind Act. The federal law is designed to improve student achievement through expanded testing, tougher teacher quality requirements, and sanctions for schools that don’t improve. Bob Chanin, the NEA's general counsel, noted states should serve as plaintiffs "because they cope most directly with unfunded costs."
It's a Jingle Out There in School Classrooms
Jun 16 2003 - The Seattle Times
Some schools have become beneficiaries of businesses' efforts to market their products inside schools, encouraging students to influence their parents purchasing patterns. Experts note that while advertisers benefit schools financially, it is dangerous to let corporations establish a presence in schools.
NSTA WebNews Analysis: School Vouchers
May 30 2003 - Kristin Collins - NSTA
The issue of vouchers, or school choice, has been a controversial topic for educators and lawmakers for many years and that continued to be the case across the country during the month of May. Giving parents the option of sending their children to private or parochial schools at taxpayer expense generated newspaper headlines in Colorado, Louisiana, and the District of Columbia.
First Lady Urges Schools to Save Key Programs
May 22 2003 - Denver Post
First Lady Laura Bush says cash-strapped school districts should avoid slashing programs from their budgets that can boost student achievement. School districts should also avoid changing testing mandates as a way to save money, according to the former teacher and librarian. Bush has recommended that businesses, private foundations, and parents offer monetary and instructional support to school districts under financial distress.
Researcher Warns States of Ballooning ESEA Costs
May 14 2003 - Education Week
A Vermont researcher says states might have to raise their education budgets by as much as 30 percent if they want to comply with the requirements mandated by the No Child Left Behind Act. William J. Mathis, a school superintendent and education finance professor, noted that states may not have realized the fiscal impact of the federal government’s latest revision of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. School finance and budget analysts argue that Mathis’ estimates are “premature.”
States Weigh Deep Cuts in Public Education Amid Budget Shortfalls
Apr 25 2003 - Los Angeles Times (Requires free registration)
A new report shows states are preparing to make deep cuts in funding for public education to make up for budget shorfalls. Changes under discussion in several states include reducing per pupil spending, laying off teachers, and increasing class sizes. “When you talk about problems the states are facing, one out of three state expenditure dollars flows to education,” observed Arturo Perez, a fiscal analyst for the National Conference on State Legislatures, the study’s sponsor.
Education Cuts Draw Protests Around Nation
Apr 22 2003 - The Seattle Times
Budget cuts to education programs have prompted a public outcry from teachers, students, and parents around the nation. Education officials say protests have taken place in at least 20 states since January with crowds as big as 25,000. “It’s getting down to the classroom level,” Steve Smith, a school finance specialist for the National Conference of State Legislatures, said of the types of programs being eliminated. “That’s why you’re seeing more protests.”
Education Law Puts Strain on States
Apr 18 2003 - Baltimore Sun
A poor economy and tight budgets are making it difficult for state and local school officials across the nation who are trying to figure out how they will pay for standardized tests and other requirements mandated by the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act. New Jersey, North Dakota, Washington, and Tennessee have passed resolutions urging Congress and President Bush to fully fund federal mandates such as NCLB. Hawaii and Utah, however, are considering ignoring the education reform law and forfeiting federal education funds.
States Cutting School Funding
Mar 15 2003 - The Washington Post
States across America are making various moves to cut millions of dollars from public school budgets. In New York, for example, the governor has proposed canceling state-funded prekindergarten classes, while California has warned 30,000 teachers they might be out of a job before next year. School officials observe the budget cuts will “take a toll on student performance” and make it difficult to meet the various requirements in the No Child Left Behind Act.
Aid to Schools Gets Support in Voter Poll
Feb 26 2003 - Education Week
Fifty-four percent of Americans believe education should avoid being cut from state budgets, according to a new national poll commissioned by the Public Education Network and Education Week. The survey also revealed strong support for requirements listed in the No Child Left Behind Act. Pollsters interviewed more than a 1,000 voters by phone for the survey, which examines public attitudes on various education topics
NEA Report Charges Tax Breaks Cost Schools Billions
Jan 23 2003 - USA TODAY
A new study commissioned by the National Education Association reveals public schools are loosing billions of dollars in revenue as a result of corporate tax breaks aimed at improving urban and suburban areas. “If school monies are being spent in the name of economic development, school boards deserve a full seat at the table,” observed Greg LeRoy, director of Good Jobs First, a Washington-based organization that prepared the report for the NEA.
Grant to Boost Math, Science Programs
Oct 7 2002 - Cleveland Plain Dealer
The National Science Foundation has given the Cleveland School District one of 24 awards totaling $240 million as part of a new Math and Science Partnership program, borne out of President Bush's No Child Left Behind law. A spokesperson said it will be a key to strengthening the knowledge base of the district's math and science teachers. The Cleveland Mathematics and Science Partnership will create connections with three local universities, offering courses and workshops primarily to teachers in grades six through eight. Former NSTA board member Bill Badders will be director of the partnership.
Schools Budgets Drop as Enrollments Rise
Sep 3 2002 - Christian Science Monitor
Across the country, “the bad old budget days have returned,” the above article reports, with school districts pressed to maintain federal and state standards during a time of shrinking revenues. The good news is that up until now, most districts have managed to avoid cuts that slice directly into core academic matters, such as curriculum, testing, and class sizes. But it hasn’t been easy, the article notes, and some fear that deeper cuts could lie ahead.
Report: Neediest Schools Receive Less Money
Aug 12 2002 - New York Times (requires free registration)
In most states, school districts that educate the greatest number of low-income students receive far less state and local money per student than districts with the fewest poor students, a new report concludes. The greatest disparities can be found in New York ($2,152 per student) and Illinois ($2,060), notes the report, which was prepared by the nonpartisan Education Trust. The report strongly urges states to take responsibility for closing the gaps. Click above for the news article, or visit www.edtrust.org to access the full report.
Budget Woes Force Summer School Cuts
Jul 24 2002 - CNN -- AP
In a departure from the past six years, cash-strapped school districts nationwide are cutting back on summer school, the above article reports. Observers say the trend is alarming (and perhaps short-sighted), given research showing that much of the achievement gap between poor and affluent students can be traced to the ground lost each summer. The timing is also bad for schools, which must meet new performance standards under federal law.
Opinion: Raising School Standards and Cutting Budget -- Huh?
Jul 10 2002 - New York Times (requires free registration)
With almost every state in a budget crisis, and with many education programs on the chopping block, federal and state policymakers "have not squarely faced the contradiction of wanting higher standards while states cut the dollars needed to meet them," writes New York Times columnist Richard Rothstein. "Higher standards and adequate finances cannot be separated," he adds. "Without more money or lower standards, student failures are bound to increase."
States Found to Vary Widely in School Spending
Jun 6 2002 - Education Week
New York and New Jersey lead the nation in school spending, at more than $10,000 per pupil, according to a recent school finance report by the U.S. Census Bureau. Trailing the pack are Utah, Mississippi, and Arizona. Experts warn, however, that state-to-state comparisons can be misleading, since they fail to reflect cost-of-living differences and the fact that some states serve larger populations of students who are more costly to educate (e.g., those learning English as a second language). Click above for the news story, or click here for the full report.
Money Woes Hitting Home for Schools
Jun 5 2002 - Education Week
Coming off a year in which many states made midyear budget cuts, scores of districts nationwide face an agonizing dilemma: raise local taxes to fill the holes or cut school services and staff. And with the economy still shaky, the above article reports, it's not clear when relief will come.
Commentary: A Matter of Money
Apr 30 2002 - Washington Post
The gap between the reality of budget cuts and Washington rhetoric to leave no child behind is "alarmingly large," writes Washington Post reporter David Broder. As a result, despite a recent poll (see previous story in Education Week)
showing that education is a high priority among voters, "America is in serious danger of backsliding on the promise to improve its schools." Click above for the full commentary...
Schools Feeling Sting of Recession
Apr 18 2002 - CNN -- AP
From Oregon to Idaho to New York, legislators and local officials have cut billions of dollars from education spending to deal with deficits caused by the recession, the above article reports. An analysis by the NEA, for example, estimates that state legislatures have trimmed a combined $11 billion from education budgets in the past year. Experts say the cuts threaten to unravel some of the efforts of the last decade to improve public education, such as smaller schools, smaller classes, full-day kindergarten, summer school, and programs to recruit highly qualified teachers.
Bush, Democrats Divided Over Education Budget
Mar 15 2002 - Boston Globe
President Bush's proposed 2003 budget plan has split the bipartisan team that crafted this year's sweeping ESEA law, the above article reports. Specifically, Democrats and some education groups charge that the budget freezes or cuts funding for dozens of key education programs, including the teacher-quality program, which requires districts to have a "highly qualified" teacher in every classroom by the 2005-06 school year. "The Bush budget delivers a severe blow to education" that cuts "the heart of education reform," alleges Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA). In response, the Bush administration contends that the budget is appropriate at a time when the war on terrorism is demanding a bigger chunk of federal dollars.
More Mandates Than Money in Education Bill?
Jan 11 2002 - CNN.com
While the education bill recently signed by President Bush authorizes $26.5 billion in federal money for K-12 education next year, an $8 billion increase from this year, some school officials are expressing concerns that the funding may still not be sufficient to meet the law's new demands. These demands include testing all students in reading and math in grades 3-8 (and, later, science tests in three grades), an undertaking that one group estimates could cost states $7 billion over the next seven years. "Our concern is that, until we see the money, this is another unfunded mandate from Washington," one official said.
Teaching Takes Big Bite Out of Wallet, Survey Shows
Jan 2 2002 - Sacramento Bee
According to a survey from the National School Supply and Equipment Association, teachers spend nearly $600 of their own money on school supplies and instructional materials each year. Teacher groups said the study underscores the need for districts to allocate more money for classroom materials. "In no profession would you expect someone to provide their own supplies," said a spokesperson for the NEA. "It's about providing the basics teachers need to do their work."
Teachers Fear Funding Cut for Training in Sciences
Dec 26 2001 - Arizona Republic
As reported last week, the recently approved federal education reform bill slashed dedicated funding for math and science education to $12.5 million. (Click here to read a recent NSTA legislative alert on this matter.) Although it is too early to predict exactly what this cut will mean for individual schools and classrooms, the above article reports that some science teachers in Arizona are worried that the bill will leave them without sufficient funds for professional development. While the state and local school boards could still put federal block grant money toward science training, the article says, it is feared that funding once set aside for science will now go to "higher priority" areas (such as reading, writing, and math) that are addressed in state tests (science is not currently tested).
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