ID: Want to graduate early? Idaho lawmakers want to pay you

By The Associated Press, The Times-News (Twin Falls)

For Idaho students who think school lasts forever, two lawmakers want to pay them to speed up their education.
Read More

MI: Big ideas for Michigan schools

By Chastity Pratt Dawsey, Robin Erb and Lori Higgins, Detroit Free Press

Education experts and observers say Michigan needs big, provocative ideas for turning around its low-performing schools and raising academic performance in general across the state.
Read More

AK: Palin calls global warming studies 'snake oil science'

By Judy Lin, The Associated Press, Anchorage Daily News

REDDING, Calif. -- Former Gov. Sarah Palin called studies supporting global climate change a "bunch of snake oil science" Monday during a rare appearance in California, a state that has been at the forefront of environmental regulations. Read More

AR: Lawmakers convene to set budget, lottery scholarships

By John Lyon, Arkansas News Bureau

The Legislature convened its first-ever fiscal session today to craft a one-year budget in lean times for state revenue. Read More

AR: Roadways remain slick, many schools stay closed

By Gavin Lesnick, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (Little Rock)

No additional wintry precipitation is forecast this morning, but officials are stressing that travel may be hazardous on roadways still covered in snow, slush and ice Read More

AR: State board rejects Weiner, Delight consolidation

By Lewis Delavan, Stephens Media, Arkansas News Bureau

The state Board of Education today rejected a proposed merger of two small school districts 200 miles apart. Read More

AZ: House panel approves increasing school tax breaks

By Jonathan J. Cooper, The Associated Press, Arizona Daily Sun (Flagstaff)

An Arizona House committee voted Monday to allow bigger tax breaks for private school scholarship donations while also requiring new accountability measures. Read More

AZ: Private school tax credit avoids major changes

By Howard Fischer, Capitol Media Services, Arizona Daily Sun (Flagstaff)

A House panel refused Monday to limit who can get scholarships for private and parochial schools that are paid for with money that otherwise would go to the state. Read More

AZ: Bill aids AZ campus stadiums

By Alec Nielson, Arizonan News Service, Arizona Daily Star (Tucson)

Arizona's universities could upgrade their football stadiums and other athletic facilities using money from new local businesses, under a proposal moving through the Legislature. Read More

CA: Community colleges rethink missions as budgets tighten

By Laurel Rosenhall, The Sacramento Bee

As community colleges deal with the state's ongoing budget crisis and consider cuts to classes, programs and staffing, they are examining which kinds of students they should continue to serve. Read More

CO: Nearly one in three Colo. graduates needs remedial courses in college, study finds

By Jeremy P. Meyer, The Denver Post

About one in three first-year college students needs remedial help in at least one core subject, according to an annual report by the Colorado Commission for Higher Education. Read More

DE: Schools may have to make up time

By Edward L. Kenney, The News Journal (New Castle-Wilmington)

With most schools closed Monday and today following the weekend snowstorm, children statewide enjoyed another day off. Read More

DE: Talk in Laurel is about schools, not scandals

By Dan Shortridge, The News Journal (New Castle-Wilmington)

LAUREL, Del. -- With two high-ranking town and school officials under separate clouds of scandal, local leaders are seeking to reassure the community that things are running smoothly and that the system isn't broken. Read More

GA: Bills address teachers' pay, how to punish cheaters

By Kristina Torres, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

House and Senate lawmakers have filed bills in support of two of Gov. Sonny Perdue's major education initiatives this year. One would tie teachers' pay to students' performance. The other would make it a crime to cheat on state tests. Read More

GA: Older students attending Georgia's colleges

By Laura Diamond, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

They're the opposite of the public image of a college student -- someone between the ages 18 and 24, went to college right after high school and earns a degree in just four years. That student is becoming extinct. Read More

HI: Bill cleared to study state-backed ferry

By Richard Borreca, Honolulu Star-Bulletin

Debate about a high-speed ferry service, much like the now-defunct Hawaii Superferry, isn't over. Read More

HI: Akaka bill to be debated Wednesday at UH law school

By Staff Reports, The Honolulu Advertiser

Ilya Shapiro, editor-in-chief of the Cato Supreme Court Review, and University of Hawaii-Manoa law professor Jon Van Dyke will debate the Akaka bill Wednesday at the UH law school. Read More

HI: Furlough bill vote postponed

By Loren Moreno, The Honolulu Advertiser

The state Senate's education committee again postponed a vote on a bill that would eliminate the remaining public school teacher furlough days through use of the state hurricane relief fund and an increase in the general excise tax by 1 percentage point. Read More

ID: Investment manager opposes Idaho schools chief Tom Luna's plan

By Brian Murphy, The Idaho Statesman (Boise)

Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna wants to tap a reserve fund for $52.8 million to offset looming cuts of at least $135 million for K-12 education. Read More

IL: SIU Board to discuss wind power project

By Stephen Rickerl, The Southern Illinoisan (Carbondale)

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- The Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees will decide Thursday whether to take the next step toward bringing wind power to the Carbondale campus. Read More

KS: Audit looks at school district consolidation

By Scott Rothschild, The Lawrence Journal-World

The state could save money by merging school districts, but those consolidations could also produce problems, an audit released Monday said. Read More

KS: School funding loophole in peril

By David Klepper, Kansas City Star

The Shawnee Mission School District's clever interpretation of state law now has other school districts urging legislators to close a loophole in school finance law. Read More

KY: Bill would let schools teach Bible literacy

By Jack Brammer, Lexington Herald-Leader

Three Democratic state senators are pushing a proposal to give public schools the option of teaching the Bible as an elective social studies course. Read More

KY: Senator seeks review of U of L health care affiliates

By Tom Loftus, The Courier-Journal (Louisville)

Sen. Tim Shaughnessy has asked the state auditor to review the University of Louisville's dealings with related nonprofit entities, particularly its financial transactions with two having to do with health care. Read More

ME: New rules for special education debated

By Ethsn Wilensky-Lanford, Kennebec Journal

Emergency rules adopted by the Maine Department of Education to save money on special education have caused more families to take legal action to ensure a quality education for their children, lawmakers were informed Monday. Read More

MS: Community colleges go high tech

By Ed Kemp, Hattiesburg American

Community college classrooms are getting "smarter," sometimes in unexpected ways. Very soon, students will be able to answer lecture questions using that indispensable accoutrement of 21st century life - their cell phones. Read More

MS: Legislative highlights

By Staff Reports, The Clarion-Ledger (Jackson)

Mandatory school start date: Beginning with the 2010-11 school year, all public schools in Mississippi would start on Sept. 1, based on an amendment approved Monday in the House. Read More

MT: Wildlife agency takes up lead ammo ban this week

By Jennifer McKee, Billings Gazette

Rob Domenech and his research associates didn't know what they were looking for when they started testing the blood of golden eagles along Montana's Rocky Mountain Front three years ago. Read More

NC: Education chief urges big push for innovation

By Mark Binker, The News & Record (Greensboro)

Even though he was snowbound in Washington, Education Secretary Arne Duncan was playing to the crowd Monday at the Raleigh Civic and Convention Center. Read More

NC: Professor derides history class idea

By Matt Ehlers, The News & Observer (Raleigh)

The recent uproar over proposed changes to the history curriculum in North Carolina public schools is not a conservative-vs.-liberal issue, said N.C. State University history professor Holly Brewer. "This is America's history that's being cut," said Brewer, who organized a protest Monday outside the Raleigh Convention Center to object to the suggested changes. Read More

ND: NDSU to go smoke-free on March 1

By Amy Dalrymple, The Forum (Fargo)

North Dakota State University will become a smoke-free campus on March 1. President Dick Hanson has signed a new smoking policy that was recommended to him by the University Senate. Read More

NE: Bill would use money from wind-energy leases to reward teachers

By The Associated Press, Lincoln Journal Star

A Nebraska lawmaker wants to put wind in the sails of high-performing teachers. A bill (LB1014) before lawmakers during a hearing on Monday would create a fund with money from wind-energy leases on land owned by the Board of Educational Lands and Funds. Read More

NH: Evergreen 'pay plan' irks towns

By Tom Fahey, The Union Leader (Manchester)

A two-year-old law that guarantees municipal and school workers raises even when their contracts expire is just now starting to make itself felt at town and school district meetings. Read More

NH: 38 jobs to be cut, tuition hike at Dartmouth

By Staff Reports, The Union Leader (Manchester)

HANOVER, N.H. – There will be 38 layoffs this week with more expected in April, and tuition will go up more than 4 percent, according to a plan to bridge the $100 million budget gap at Dartmouth College. Read More

NV: In throwback to 1960s, students plan walkout today to protest budget cuts

By Emily Richmond, Las Vegas Sun

Taking a page from earlier generations of Southern Nevada campus activists, UNLV students plan a walkout today to oppose Gov. Jim Gibbons' proposed budget cuts. Read More

NV: Gibbons -- Reform school system, close prison

By Geoff Dornan, Nevada Appeal (Carson City)

The veneer of cooperation between Gov. Jim Gibbons and legislative leadership suffered some damage Monday night as Gibbons blamed lawmakers for creating the budget crisis. Read More

NV: Gibbons -- Reform school system, close prison

OH: Smackdown -- Controlling Board denies YSU land request

By Jim Siegel, The Columbus Dispatch

A Youngstown State University official today suffered the equivalent of a legislative beat-down today by the Ohio Controlling Board, which rejected the school's attempt to purchase a pair of adjacent properties for $620,000. Read More

OK: Additional term limit measure passes Oklahoma Senate panel

By Barbara Hoberock, Tulsa World

A measure that would place a 12-year limit on those serving on most boards and commissions cleared a Senate panel on Monday. Read More

OK: Oklahoma House panel passes teacher performance pay measure

By Barbara Hoberock, Tulsa World

A House panel on Monday passed a measure that would create a pilot teacher performance pay program. Read More

SC: Segregation spurred S.C. school building spree

By Joey Holleman, The State (Columbia)

For the two generations of children who have attended integrated public schools, it's hard to fathom South Carolina spent $124 million on buildings and buses from 1951 through 1955 with the express purpose of preventing black and white kids from attending school together. Read More

SD: USD wants help paying for DakotaDome renovations

By Staff and Wire Reports, Rapid City Journal

The University of South Dakota says the DakotaDome needs $8 million worth of renovations, and it wants the Vermillion School District to help pay. Read More

SD: 'No Child' reform starts

By David Montgomery, Capital Journal (Pierre)

Local educators have a mixture of hopes and fears as President Barack Obama and Congress set about to reform the No Child Left Behind education program. Read More

TN: UT predicts 2 more years of unemployment above 10 percent

By Richard Locker, The Commercial Appeal (Memphis)

The University of Tennessee's annual report on the state's economy, released Monday, projects slow economic growth this year and bad news on the job front: unemployment above 10 percent through 2011. Read More

TX: Hutchison calls education a priority

By Jenny LaCoste-Caputo, The San Antonio Express-News

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison visited San Antonio's KIPP Aspire Academy Monday along with former first lady Barbara Bush and former Congressman Henry Bonilla to talk about what she calls her No. 1 issue in her campaign for governor: education. Read More

TX: Abstinence-only sex education works, study finds, but lessons murky

By Jeffrey Weiss, The Dallas Morning News

Dramatic new evidence that abstinence-only sex education can succeed in public schools ought to be good news for Texas, right? After all, state law requires an emphasis on abstinence, and most school districts stop there. Read More

UT: Lawmakers discuss early high school graduation

By Lisa Schencker, The Salt Lake Tribune

Sen. Chris Buttars isn't talking about dropping 12th grade any more. Now, he's talking about making 12th grade optional for those students who finish their required credits early -- and some lawmakers are listening to the idea with interest. Read More

UT: State scholarships face another shortfall

By Brian Maffly, The Salt Lake Tribune

Higher education officials cautioned lawmakers Monday that they will have to substantially shrink the state's two popular merit-based scholarships next year absent an increase in funding beyond what the Legislature currently envisions. Read More

UT: Utah Legislature -- Testing teachers — Educators could soon receive pay based on student test scores

By Amy K. Stewart, The Deseret Morning News (Salt Lake City)

Whether teachers should earn their paychecks based on student test scores, popularity or their college degree and years of experience is drawing heated debate between lawmakers and educators. Read More

VA: Change in formula may mean less money for area schools

By Olympia Meola and Holly Prestidge, Richmond Times-Dispatch

Richmond-area school systems are facing millions of dollars less in state education funding, after Gov. Bob McDonnell said yesterday that he will support updating the index that determines how much state money each school system receives. Read More

VA: Delegates table bills to cap out-of-state enrollment

By Bill Sizemore, The Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk)

Virginia state universities appear to be safe, for at least another year, from legislative attempts to limit the number of out-of-state students they can admit to their campuses. Read More

VA: McDonnell directing more education money to N.Va.

By Anita Kumar and Fredrick Kunkle, The Washington Post

RICHMOND, Va. -- In one of his first decisions on the state's two-year budget, Virginia Gov. Robert F. McDonnell sided with Northern Virginia, the vote-rich region that helped him secure his landslide victory in November, by sending it more school dollars. Read More

WA: Gregoire wants more clarity on school funding case

By Linda Shaw, The Seattle Times

Gov. Chris Gregoire said Monday that she has a lot of questions about last week's ruling by King County Superior Court Judge John Erlick that Washington state is not providing enough money to its public schools. Read More

WA: Report spells out tuition increases under Senate bill

By Lillian Tucker, The Seattle Times

Wondering what all this talk of tuition-setting authority means in terms of the price tag on education? Senate Committee Services released a report Monday that lays out possible future tuition rates under the maximum-limit provisions of SB 6562. Read More

WV: Lottery chief predicts revenue will level off

By Phil Kabler, Charleston Gazette

After three consecutive years of declining revenues, West Virginia Lottery Director John Musgrave said he believes state Lottery revenues will level off in future years -- despite a weak economy and increased competition from neighboring states. Read More

WY: Elk testing project ends

By Cat Urbigkit, Casper Star-Tribune

BOULDER, Wy. -- Wyoming Game and Fish Department staff have wrapped up a five-year pilot program aimed at reducing brucellosis in the Pinedale elk herd unit. Read More

WY: 'Take your cue from the private sector'

By Joan Barron, Casper Star-Tribune

Gov. Dave Freudenthal pushed for his wind energy package, called for more money for school capital construction and repeated his admonition to leave the state's reserve funds alone during his message to the Legislature on Monday. Read More

Achieve
Achieve was formed as a partnership between governors and business leaders to push for higher academic standards in the states.

Alliance for Excellent Education
Alliance promotes high school reform with the goal of making students more prepared for college or the workforce.

American Federation of Teachers
The AFT is the country’s second-largest teachers’ union. This site is includes education information and resources for members.

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Center on Education Policy
The center releases several reports each year detailing the impact of No Child Left Behind.

Children's Defense Fund
CDF is a Washington, D.C.-based advocacy group that conducts research and public education campaigns.

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The council is made up of top public officials who lead the departments responsible for elementary and secondary education. The site includes information ranging from early childhood education to higher education.

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Education Commission of the States
ECS is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization involving key leaders from all levels of the education system. The site includes background material and updates of what states are doing on a wide range of education topics, including No Child Left Behind.

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Ed Sector is a nonprofit and nonpartisan think tank that releases several reports each year about a variety of education issues.

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Ed Trust regularly releases reports with the goal of closing the achievement gap between poor, minority students and their white, wealthier counterparts.

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The Hechinger Institute is dedicated to improving education reporting by conducting seminars nationwide for reporters and providing resources and information on its website.

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Results of the nation's only ongoing survey authorized by Congress and administered by the National Center for Education Statistics.

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This non-profit association strives to strengthen state leadership in educational policymaking and advocates for equal access to education.

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National Center for Education Statistics
The primary federal entity for collecting and analyzing data that are related to education in the United States and other nations.

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The education page of the National Conference of State Legislatures.

National Education Association
The nation's largest and oldest teachers' union. The site has information about education issues and legislative developments.

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National Governors' Association Education Page
The education page for the National Governors' Association.

National Institute for Early Education Research
The institute supports early childhood education efforts by providing research-based information to policy-makers and journalists.

No Child Left Behind
The U.S. Department of Education's web site of latest developments and policies affecting the federal No Child Left Behind law.

Pre-K Now
A national advocacy group that supports universal access to preschool, Pre-K Now also produces two annual reports, one describing each governor's position on early childhood education, and another showing legislative and funding action on pre-K.

The Rural School and Community Trust
The Rural School and Community Trust is a national non-profit organization focused on helping rural communities produce and operate strong public schools.

Schoolmatters.com
Schoolmatters.com contains the largest collection of public education data on the Web. It includes student achievement information, financial data and demographic breakdowns.

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BillFinder helps users find any bill eligible for consideration in the current calendar year using either keywords and phrases or bill numbers.

Thomas B. Fordham Foundation
The Fordham Foundation is a conservative-leaning think tank that pushes for higher academic standards, educational choice, and national standards.

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Information from the U.S. Department of Education about K-12, higher education, lifelong learning and state resources.

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Education news

ID: Want to graduate early? Idaho lawmakers want to pay you

MI: Big ideas for Michigan schools