Federal/NCLB

Education has not been the hottest topic in the presidential campaigns, but UT voters say NCLB is one issue candidates can't ignore
http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_8136828

Other News

As virtual public schools expand, so do debates over funding and the benefits of online schooling
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/01/education/01virtual.html?_r=1&ex=1359608400&en=c6f590d4e9c034b9&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin

National Science Board Chairman contends the way to raise "science literacy” is to raise salaries for math and science teachers and make curriculum more consistent among school systems
http://newsok.com/article/3199501/1201839101

School Funding Litigation/Policy

IN House and Senate sign off on separate measures to have referendums determine the fate of most local construction projects, which might include schools
http://www.nwi.com/articles/2008/02/01/news/lake_county/docf6a6abe87afdf72d862573e20005bfc7.txt

NH preliminary report calculates per-student cost at $3,456, and recommends the state direct extra aid to schools with low-income, special education and non-English-speaking students
http://www.cmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080201/FRONTPAGE/802010381

MS bill that allocate more than the basic formula for funding public education clears the House after partisan debate but faces hurdles from senators
http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080201/NEWS010504/802010364/1002/NEWS01

MS House passes legislation to fully fund education and give teachers a 3 percent pay raise
http://www.djournal.com/pages/story.asp?ID=265057&pub=1&div=News

NM House overwhelmingly approves a $6 billion budget to pay for state government and public education next year
http://www.santafenewmexican.com/Local%20News/House_OKs_6_billion_budget_defends_progress

State Roundup

CO Senate President introduces a bill to encourage schools to seek more freedom in hiring, scheduling and spending – allowing them to sidestep the teachers union to get it
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/feb/01/bill-encourages-schools-to-seek-autonomy/

Over 100 students, parents and supporters march against plan to close down D.C. schools
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/01/AR2008020101104.html?wpisrc=_rsseducation

Budget cuts raise wrath of NY principals, and they scour for places to cut spending
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/01/nyregion/01principals.html?ex=1359608400&en=18c3b325b34d8349&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

LA seeks new partners to take over failing schools and address low performance
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2008/02/06/22louisiana.h27.html

In the News on January 31, 2008

Integration

Jefferson County school district proposes a new student assignment plan to maintain racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic diversity without running afoul of the law
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2008/02/06/22deseg.h27.html

Other News

Community colleges need more funds and should do more to lift graduation rates and measure student progress, according to a study
http://www.boston.com/news/education/higher/articles/2008/01/31/community_colleges_need_funds_study_says/

School Funding Litigation/Policy

D.C. mayor will seek a 5 percent increase in per-pupil funding, a $52.9 million effort to improve city education
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/30/AR2008013004253.html?wpisrc=_rsseducation

D.C. Schools Chancellor plans to propose a $794.6 million budget for fiscal year 2009, a nearly $17 million increase over this year's school budget
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/29/AR2008012903367.html?wpisrc=_rsseducation

IN starts local government investment pool: Officials say schools can earn more interest and avoid fees if they pool their money into a state-run fund rather than use traditional banks
http://www2.indystar.com/articles/1/254436-4911-127.html

State Roundup

Boston schools chief lays out an ambitious plan seeking to increase accountability and give students more opportunities to attend classes on college campuses, enroll in Montessori schools, and learn art and music
http://www.boston.com/news/education/k_12/articles/2008/01/31/school_chief_lays_out_ambitious_plan/?rss_id=Boston.com+--+Education+news

GA educators support the governors work to increase the number of credits required to earn a high school diploma, but they also have concerns about the switch to a one-track diploma that blends career and technology courses with a college-prep curriculum

The number of NH elementary and middle school students passing state reading and math exams is on the rise, according the state Department of Education
http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080130/FRONTPAGE/801300301/1012/NEWS

MT school officials say deep cuts to federal Reading First grants, which help the neediest schools boost reading scores, will not cripple local reading programs
http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2008/01/31/news/state/27-reading.txt

UT lawmakers approve bills to boost pay for some educators, lower class sizes, conquer quality teachers, and extend the school year
http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695248814,00.html

In the News on January 30, 2008

School Integration

Book advises educators to “get real on race” and outlines ways to become more constructively conscious and open about race
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2008/01/30/21race.h27.html

Federal/NCLB

President Bush once again pushes to reauthorize NCLB at the State of the , but the one concrete idea he proposed – Pell Grants for Kids – won't generate much enthusiasm in Congress
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2008/01/29/21bush_web.h27.html

Tech literacy tests are still not widespread despite NCLB provision that makes it a national goal for all 8th graders to be technologically literate, according to report
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2008/01/30/21techtests.h27.html

Other News

Head Start supporters lament broken funding promises and new requirements
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2008/01/30/21fedfil.h27.html

school system “collapses” the achievement gap; superintendent says the results bear directly on two of their most costly initiatives – lengthening the kindergarten school day and lowering class sizes in high-poverty schools
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/29/AR2008012901638.html?wpisrc=_rsseducation

School Funding Litigation/Policy

The head of a legislative task force warns AK lawmakers that tinkering with proposed changes to the school funding system could cause a "long-fought, well-discussed compromise" to collapse
http://juneauempire.com/stories/013008/sta_241997514.shtml

GA democrats propose more education funding and want the state to send leftover money to local school districts that agree to cut property taxes
http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/stories/2008/01/29/taxcut_0130.html

KY school districts will receive the same amount of state money per student but see cuts in funding for professional development, textbooks, safe schools and after-school programs under Gov. Beshear's proposed budget
http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080130/NEWS0101/801300813/1008/NEWS01

ME school and state officials oppose a plan that would shift funds for disadvantaged children to other education expenses
http://bangornews.com/news/t/news.aspx?articleid=159529&zoneid=500

State Roundup

D.C. housing downturn hits school systems with force, causing program delays and possibly larger classes
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/29/AR2008012903838.html

MO lawmaker wants to expand the state’s Parents as Teachers program to serve families of children up to 13 years old; he says he believes parents need help beyond the early years
http://www.showmenews.com/2008/Jan/20080129News010.asp

SC Education Oversight Committee launches a new online service to assist adults in understanding how to evaluate public school performance
http://www.thestate.com/education/story/300401.html

In the News on January 29, 2008

Federal/NCLB

Report says NCLB accountability systems have led to some benefits for students with disabilities, but it’s too soon to link the law with improved academic outcomes for such students
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2008/01/28/22disabilities.h27.html

Other News

Teacher unions take different paths in endorsing presidential candidates: The AFT backs Sen. Clinton, while the NEA is not yet ready to make a selection
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2008/01/30/21electpol.h27.html

Study says students who participate in ’s private-school-voucher program graduate from high school at significantly higher rates than those who attend regular city schools
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2008/01/30/21voucher.h27.html

School Funding Litigation/Policy

President Bush calls for a $300 million program, Pell Grants for Kids, to finance private schooling; critics say it will drain resources from urban public schools in need of money
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/29/washington/29educ.html?ref=us

IN Democrats draw attention to the $154 million schools would lose under the governor's proposed tax caps
http://www.nwi.com/articles/2008/01/29/news/top_news/docf9125c7f566e049b862573df00015b0e.txt

MS legislature is expected to pump $2.5 million more into K-12 schools, but it could also decrease funds for some Coast districts that have lower post-Katrina enrollments
http://www.sunherald.com/278/story/330729.html

NH school aid plan allows aid to be targeted to the neediest schools without a constitutional amendment
http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=New+school+aid+plan+has+low-income+aspect&articleId=ae9efe69-2a04-495d-ac7b-4b92fad7f88e

NH charter schools seek state funding; educators say that in several schools tuition doesn't come close to covering per pupil costs
http://www.boston.com/news/education/k_12/articles/2008/01/28/nh_charter_schools_seek_state_funding/?rss_id=Boston.com+--+Education+news

Mayor Bloomberg calls on lawmakers to restore the $500 million to the state budget that was promised to NYC last year, or risk fewer schools being built, higher taxes or deeper service cuts
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/state/ny-nybloo0129,0,5422245.story

State House members debate a radical change in the way PA public schools are funded: Amendment would hike state income tax, widen sales tax, and end school property taxes
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08029/852965-178.stm

State Roundup

NE lawmaker wants state officials to implement statewide reading and math tests to allow comparisons of student achievement among school districts
http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2798&u_sid=10244142

IN plans to monitor more closely how school districts grant students waivers to graduate without passing the statewide mandatory graduation exam
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080129/LOCAL/801290429

TN Board of Education approves tougher standards for students and drops the Gateway exams required for high school graduation
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2008/01/28/21aptenn.h27.html

SC Rep. Walker will introduce legislation to overhaul the Education Accountability Act and the much-maligned Palmetto Achievement Challenge Tests
http://www.goupstate.com/article/20080129/NEWS/528599467/1051/NEWS01

School Integration

CT judge bumps Sheff v. O’neill desegregation case back to lawmakers
http://www.courant.com/news/local/statewire/hc-25075003.apds.m0159.bc-ct--shefjan25,0,1846327.story

ME school superintendents oppose a plan that would reduce state aid for economically disadvantaged students by $9.5 million next year, the state plans to offset the loss with federal funds
http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=165168&ac=PHnws

MT coalition that successfully sued the state in 2004 for inadequate school funding is going back to court saying that schools need more money this fall and into the future
http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2008/01/25/news/state/21-coallition.txt

NH legislative committee grapples with amount of aid for at-risk students, and gives preliminary support to educate non-English speaking students
http://www.boston.com/news/education/k_12/articles/2008/01/25/nh_legislators_wrestling_with_amount_of_aid_for_at_risk_students/?rss_id=Boston.com+--+Education+news

State Roundup

Members of AK’s teacher’s union continue their talks on critical issues in the public school system, and the governor weighs in
http://www.ktuu.com/Global/story.asp?S=7779547

AL plan to expand pre-kindergarten program could run into a major obstacle: a shortage of qualified teachers
http://www.al.com/news/press-register/index.ssf?/base/news/120134253742400.xml&coll=3

FL educators fear they're approaching testing overkill in preparation for the FCAT, the state’s comprehensive assessment test
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-nonstoptests2808jan28,0,756922.story

GA governor wants to use parental aids in anti-dropout initiative to increase the state’s graduation rate
http://www.edweek.org/int_page.html?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.edweek.org%2Few%2Farticles%2F2008%2F01%2F30%2F21georgia.h27.html

Consulting firm says 2900 HI teachers do not meet federal standards and are under qualified to teach their subjects
http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080125/NEWS07/801250351/1012/NEWS07

IA officials are working on a K-8 model curriculum which involves adopting state content standards in core subjects
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2008/01/30/21iowa.h27.html

ID schools chief proposes math initiative to bolster scores statewide, but lawmakers say it will cost more than the state can afford
http://www.idahostatesman.com/531/story/274321.html

County school superintendent says MD’s recent decision to offer alternative exams for high school graduation could have a significant impact on some schools’ ability to meet federal academic standards
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/25/AR2008012503098.html?wpisrc=_rsseducation

MI governor will reveal a $300 million plan for smaller, more personalized high schools to replace larger schools whose students are doing poorly and have high dropout rates
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080128/POLITICS/801280376

State officials announce grants for NE providers of early childhood education
http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2798&u_sid=10240698

Report says teacher salaries in NJ may not be as great as we think they are
http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/education/story/7531296p-7433259c.html

OK republicans promote a pilot program to establish a system of merit pay for teachers
http://newsok.com/article/3196845/1201238257

The math portion of the WASL, WA’s graduation requirement, worries students once again
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/266830.html

Published Monday, Feb. 4, 2008