Education

K-12 Funding Jumps to $519 Billion; Posting Highest Increase Since 2003
   Funding for K-12 public schools is projected to increase by 5.2% this school year, well ahead of the inflation rate and the biggest one-year jump since 2003. Total school expenditures in 2005-2006--which includes everything from capital outlays to interest pay-ments--are expected to increase from $4...
posted 12/6/06 09:50 AM  read complete story

Democrats' Return to Power Could Revive Three Key Education Funding Bills
   AFE sought the opinion of the Center for American Progress (CAP), the left-leaning policy center headed by of the past six years. "At the heart of improving education is ensuring high quality instruction for all students," Podesta says. "Conrewards to help ensure that high quality teachers are teach...
posted 12/6/06 09:50 AM  read complete story

Court Slashes New York City Budget Expectations by Nearly One-Third
   New York: New York City's public schools took an immense blow Nov. 24 when the state's highest court ruled that the city must spend $1.93 billion more for public schools. That was much less than the $5.63 billion in additional education aid proponents expected. A lower court had ordered the city to ...
posted 12/6/06 09:30 AM  read complete story

Supreme Court Won't Review Maine School Voucher Case
   The Supreme Court Nov. 27 refused to review a contentious case over whether the town of Durham, ME, can deny students the use of state education money to pay tuition at private religious schools. Durham officials believe the money should go to non-religious affiliated schools. Eight Maine families h...
posted 12/6/06 09:25 AM  read complete story

Universal Pre-K Could Yield Savings In Prison, Healthcare in Later Years
    Arkansas: Universal pre-kindergarten could yield $1.58 for every state dollar invested in Arkansas, according to a report that measures defrayed prison and health-care costs, among other future expenses. The study, Economic Analysis of Pre-K in Arkansas, indicates that pre-K funding could save...
posted 12/6/06 09:20 AM  read complete story

Proposed Law Would Open More Classrooms for Troops-to-Teachers
   More schools could benefit from a program to help retiring military personnel start second careers as school teachers under a bill introduced by Rep. Tom Petri, (RWI). The Troops-to-Teachers program--originally created in 1994 to help recent military retirees find teaching posi-tions--would be expan...
posted 12/6/06 09:15 AM  read complete story

PEN Conference Seeks Ways to Expand Student Participation
   At the recent 16th annual Public Education Network (PEN) conference, "Local Education Funds: Leading Transformation in Public Education," former Asst. Education Secy. Diane Ravitch spoke on the history of public education funding. Among the issues she addressed were expanding opportunities for stude...
posted 12/6/06 09:10 AM  read complete story

Federal Grant Notices
   Personnel Development Funding Agency: Education Dept. Program: Personnel Development to Improve Services & Results for Children with Disabilities. Eligibility: Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs). Funds: $90.626 million, of which $3.055 million will be used for Special Education Pre-service ...
posted 12/4/06 11:52 PM  read complete story

Education Dept. Wants to Change How Colleges Count Minority Students
   An Education Dept. attempt to alter how colleges collect and report data on student racial and ethnic backgrounds is drawing a lot of criticism. One group opposing the move represents some of the most elite private colleges in the nation, but administrations at large state universities and colleges ...
posted 12/4/06 11:50 PM  read complete story

Bank Assn. President: CBA Must Tell Public How It Helps Students
   Joe Belew, president of the Consumer Banking Assn., outlines the CBA's agenda for the 110 Congress, which convenes after Jan. 1. Increased partnerships with financial aid administrators to better meet their needs and the needs of their students. Increase efforts to inform the public of the many outr...
posted 12/4/06 11:48 PM  read complete story