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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
December 14, 2009
Colorado schools, which are facing a 6 percent funding cut, would have had an additional $3 billion annually if constitutional limits on residential property taxes had not been enacted by voters in past decades, lawmakers were told Friday. That revelation came during a meeting of the Joint Budget Committee, which was hearing a presentation from […]
December 14, 2009
Comstock Public Schools Superintendent Sandra Standish will not get a pay raise this year. It isn’t because she doesn’t deserve one – Standish received high marks from the board when they revealed their evaluation of her first year at the district’s helm on Nov. 12. Standish made it known at the October meeting that she […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]