Industry News
The Downward Tren d in Tax Revenue
December 14, 2009
st1:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } Florida legislators say the downward trend in tax revenue will force significant changes to education funding. While relief flooded the Florida State legislature brought on by the Federal stimulus funds in 2009, legislators soon realized that this was but a "band-aid" on a much deeper wound. Overall, trends in school funding […]
School Districts Plan to Sue State
December 14, 2009
The California School Board Association is planning to sue the state because the decreasing amount of educational funding doesn’t match up to the high standards school districts are held to. Redlands Unified School District Board of Education member Pat Kohlmeier mentioned the pending lawsuit during the board’s meeting Dec. 8. Kohlmeier – who serves on […]
South Dakota Schools Brace for Freeze on State Aid
December 14, 2009
For 15 years, the formula used to calculate the yearly boost in per-pupil funding in South Dakota has hummed along on a sort of autopilot. While critics of the formula have argued that it never has generated enough money for K-12 education in the state, it has served at least as a proven, reliable source […]
Politics Dominate CA Education Reform Effort
December 14, 2009
To education reformers, a $4.3 billion school funding competition from the Obama administration seemed like just the push California needed to start making long overdue changes to restore academic luster to the state’s public schools. But the drive to dramatically turn around a faltering system that serves more than 6 million children has run into […]
Schools Confront Long Term Pain
December 14, 2009
Bay County school districts are making midyear cuts as the battle over school funding continues to wage in Lansing. Last week, Bay City Public Schools laid out a plan to cut 13 employees, including custodians, teacher aides and transportation and technology staff. "It’s not pretty," said Bay City Schools Interim Superintendent Douglas Newcombe. "Frankly, it’s […]
State’s Shortfall Stretching Schools
December 14, 2009
To hear some Kansans tell it, including a Wichitan on the Kansas State Board of Education, school districts can handle more funding cuts with relative ease because they’re sitting on piles of reserve cash. Last week demonstrated a problem with that view: After being tardy with money to schools in November, the cash-strapped state delayed […]
$17 Million Cut From Medicaid
December 11, 2009
The Oklahoma Health Care Authority board voted unanimously to cut nearly $17 million in the state’s Medicaid program Thursday, but left payments to providers such as hospitals, doctors and nursing homes untouched. But Mike Fogarty, chief executive officer, warned that state legislators have indicated additional cuts are likely so providers likely will face a 1 […]
Oklahoma State Officials Unveil Health Improvement Plan
December 11, 2009
Improving children’s health and reducing obesity and tobacco use are the focus of a plan released Thursday for improving the health outcomes of Oklahoma residents, who officials said have higher rates of disease and mortality than almost every other state. Oklahoma ranks 49th in the nation in the health outcomes of its citizens — ahead […]
Education Secretary: No K-12 Increase Is Tough
December 11, 2009
South Dakota school districts may have a tough time making ends meet if the current budget proposal makes its way through the legislature. Governor Mike Rounds’ proposed budget does not include any increase for K-12 schools because of the tight budget year. Those school districts were scheduled to get a 1.2 percent increase under the […]
KidCheck Program Honored
December 11, 2009
A program geared toward screening school-aged children for abnormalities and promoting the overall health of children was honored this week. The Auburn University Montgomery Center for Government and Public Affairs and Center for Advanced Technologies named the KidCheck program as the overall winner for the 2009 Innovative Alabama Governments Award for Government Program Innovation at […]