March 31, 2010
Schools around the region could lose their favorable ratings this year because of a new federal guideline on special education. Even if the performance of Beach special education students improves this year, the school system could see half of its high schools miss federal testing benchmarks. States will no longer be able to add points […]
March 31, 2010
School districts across the state are holding public hearings this week on their dismal budgets, reluctantly asking voters to accept fewer services and higher property taxes as a result of deep cuts to state aid. Education officials said the sweeping cuts will frustrate schools across New Jersey — from wealthy suburbs to vast urban areas. […]
March 31, 2010
The epic year-long quest to improve access to health care for at least 31million more Americans ended Tuesday when President Obama signed the bill that won over the final votes needed to pass the legislation. "It represents a major step forward toward giving Americans with insurance and those without a sense of security when […]
March 31, 2010
A group represe nting Arizona hospitals is pursuing a ballot initiative that would tax the state’s high-income earners to help pay the health-care tab for the state’s neediest kids and adults. The Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association expects to file paperwork for the initiative later this week, aiming for a place on the November ballot. […]
March 31, 2010
State Rep. Bill Proctor, R-St. Augustine, predicted Tuesday that a bill that "restrains" Medicaid costs will most likely be presented to the Legislature this session. "Medicaid is the Pac-Man in the state budget," Proctor said, echoing a well-used comparison. "It is taking an increasing amount of the state budget, Our two biggest budget items are […]
March 31, 2010
More than $2 billion in state aid payments to public school districts across the state are being delayed , possibly until June, because of the state’s worsening financial crisis, Gov. David A. Paterson said Tuesday. The governor’s order, coming the day before the aid was to go out, left school districts scrambling, with talk of […]
March 30, 2010
For the second time in about four months, a special education watchdog group picketed the Mansfield public schools’ administrative office Monday, braving pouring rain and heavy winds to protest the school system’s treatment of special education students. About 18 members of SPEDWatch, a Pepperell-based watchdog group, spent two hours marching around the South Common in […]
March 30, 2010
Leyden High School District 212, like other districts throughout Illinois, faces funding cuts proposed in Gov. Pat Quinn’s fiscal 2011 budget. "Next year, the governor’s proposed cuts could reduce our general state aid by $250,000 or more," Thomas Janeteas, Leyden’s chief financial officer and school board treasurer said. Quinn’s proposed budget slashes more than $2 […]
March 30, 2010
Over $300 million, or 42%, of Governor Christopher Christie’s massive $1.06 billion cut in K-12 school funding for FY11 falls on categorical aid designated for special education programs for students with disabilities in NJ’s public schools. The aid category — Special Education Categorical Aid — is a component of the State’s new school funding formula, […]
March 30, 2010
Heartache was heavy Monday, as South Bend school board members voted to cut more than $7 million from the corporation’s budget over the next two years, including more than 75 total jobs. But, school board members say they also felt an air of something else: compromise. The cuts will be felt across the board, from […]