Stimulus eases community college troubles

By Kimberly Leonard, Special to Stateline.org

States are digging into their federal stimulus money to help finance community colleges, where rising tuition, soaring enrollment and budget cuts threaten to shut students out of the system.
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US: Facing deficits, some states cut summer school

By Sam Dillon, The New York Times

COCOA, Fla. — Nearly every school system in Florida has eviscerated or eliminated summer school this year, and officials are reporting sweeping cuts in states from North Carolina and Delaware to California and Washington.
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AK: State loans money to student load corp.

By Rena Delbridge, Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

A bill allowing the state to loan money to the Alaska Student Loan Corporation will ensure post-secondary education aid. Read More

AL: 123,046 in Alabama still waiting for tax refunds

By Phillip Rawls, The Associated Press, Montgomery Advertiser

The longest U.S. recession since World War II has caused Alabama's tax collections to plummet so badly that more than 120,000 taxpayers are having to wait for their state income tax refunds. Read More

HI: State wins OK for $129 million in federal funds for education

By Gary T. Kubota, Honolulu Star-Bulletin

Some $129 million in federal money has been approved for public education in Hawaii under President Obama's national economic stimulus plan. Read More

HI: Hawaii libraries brace for 20% cut in budget, may close branches

By Loren Moreno, The Honolulu Advertiser

Hawai'i's state library system is facing budget cuts of more than $5.7 million, nearly 20 percent of current spending, which could lead to the closing of branches and cutting of hours. Read More

IL: Quinn adminstration outlines budget cuts

Staff reports, The State Journal-Register (Springfield)

Gov. Pat Quinn says spending cuts of about $1 billion will be needed even if lawmakers eventually pass the income tax increase he's pushing for. Read More

IL: Investigators raid home, office of Cook County regional schools superintendent

By Stephanie Banchero, Chicago Tribune

Investigators raided the home and office of the Cook County regional schools superintendent Wednesday, carting out laptop computers, cell phones and boxes of files, sources said. Read More

IN: Daniels -- Special session worth it

By Patrick Guinane, Northwest Indiana Times (Munster)

Gov. Mitch Daniels calls the roughly $150,000 cost of the special legislative session that ended Tuesday night "a great bargain" for Hoosier taxpayers, but the General Assembly's top Democrat says Gary schools had a better deal on the table in late April. Read More

IN: Speaker says study on school funding needed

By The Associated Press, The Indianapolis Star

Indiana Democratic House Speaker Patrick Bauer says it's time for a comprehensive study on the way state tax dollars are distributed to schools. Read More

IN: Daniels is poised to resume fight for local government reform

By Mary Beth Schneider, The Indianapolis Star

A day after Indiana's lawmakers passed a new two-year state budget, Gov. Mitch Daniels was already looking ahead to his next legislative goal: reforming local government, including a push to merge the state's smallest school districts. Read More

IN: State colleges preparing new tuition rates

By The Associated Press, The Indianapolis Star

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Now that Indiana lawmakers have approved a new state budget, public colleges and universities can start calculating their tuition rates for next year. Read More

KS: Governor to reveal budget plan

By The Associated Press, The Topeka Capital-Journal

Educators and officials in Kansas are awaiting word from Gov. Mark Parkinson about how he plans to balance the state budget. Read More

KS: State payments to Kansas school districts get held back again

By Kansas City Star staff, Kansas City Star

Budget problems have forced Kansas to delay $73 million in aid payments due to public school districts at the end of June. Read More

KS: Community colleges sue regents

By The Associated Press, The Topeka Capital-Journal

DODGE CITY, Kan. — Three community colleges have sued the Kansas Board of Regents claiming unequal funding for some of their vocational and technical programs. Read More

KS: State payments to Kansas school districts get held back again

By The Associated Press, Kansas City Star

Budget problems have forced Kansas to delay $73 million in aid payments due to public school districts at the end of June. Read More

MA: 30 failing schools may face takeover

By James Vaznis, The Boston Globe

The Patrick administration, in a sharp deviation from previous state policy, will seek legislative approval to take over about 30 of the state's worst schools and dramatically weaken their teacher contracts, as part of the governor's effort to overhaul public education. Read More

MI: WSU governors vote to raise tuition

By Robin Erb, Detroit Free Press

Wayne State University students — except for Michigan undergraduates — will pay about 5.4% more in tuition and fees this fall over last year's rates. Read More

MO: Missouri universities to partner for new med program

By The Associated Press, The News Tribune (Tacoma)

JOPLIN, Mo. -- Two Missouri universities are hoping plans for a new medical school program will provide trained professionals to relieve the physician shortage in the southern half of the state. Read More

MO: University sees rise in financial aid requests

By The Associated Press, The News Tribune (Tacoma)

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- The University of Missouri-Columbia reports a spike in the number of students requesting financial aid for the upcoming school year. Read More

MO: Tax credits granted for mentoring girls

Staff reports, Columbia Daily Tribune

Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Central Missouri has been approved for $85,000 in special tax credits to strengthen the organization's programs for girls. Read More

MO: Nixon signs up state for education goals

Staff reports, Columbia Daily Tribune

Gov. Jay Nixon has signed up Missouri to help prepare national common education standards. Read More

NC: Easley's appeal may be doomed

By Eric Ferreri, The News & Observer (Raleigh)

N.C. State University is highly unlikely to negotiate a settlement with former first lady Mary Easley, who earlier this week indicated she will appeal her firing, the university's new leader said Wednesday. Read More

NH: Sigh of relief for area schools -- But worry about state funding in the future

By Adam D. Krauss, Foster's Daily Democrat (Dover)

Seacoast school districts are set to receive more than $4.5 million next school year in building aid, with additional funds coming during the 2010-2011 school year, following passage of the state budget. Read More

NJ: New Jersey school districts show improvement under 'No Child' grading

By Jeanette Rundquist, The Star-Ledger (Newark)

More New Jersey school districts are meeting the requirements of the federal "No Child Left Behind" law, according to data released yesterday by the state Department of Education. Read More

NJ: Pact averts layoffs, keeps schools open

By Staff Reports, The Star-Ledger (Newark)

Gov. Jon Corzine has agreed to abandon plans to close 18 regional schools the state operates for students with learning disabilities under the amended contract members of the Communications Workers of America ratified this week. Read More

NM: NM gets $19 million for education

By The Associated Press, Santa Fe New Mexican

New Mexico is receiving more than $19 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to help with education spending. Read More

NY: Senate deadlock hits New York schools

By Suzanne Sataline, The Wall Street Journal

New York City officials scrambled Wednesday to re-create a system of school governance that hasn't existed in seven years after a deadlocked state Senate failed to renew the mayor's control over public schools before a Tuesday deadline. Read More

NY: Senate impasse forces city to revive old school board, in name

By Javier C. Hernandez, The New York Times

Back from the dead, almost by accident, the New York City Board of Education met for the first time in seven years Wednesday as Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg technically lost control of the school system. Read More

OR: Education funding set the agenda

By Tracy Loew, Statesman Journal (Salem)

Lawmakers entered the 2009 session with hopes of extending the school year, expanding full-day kindergarten, increasing college tuition aid and more. Read More

PA: Pa. universities fighting for U.S. stimulus funds

By Bill Schackner, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Penn State University wants the Obama administration to stop Gov. Ed Rendell from reclassifying it and three other state-related universities as non-public and ineligible for $42 million in federal stimulus aid. Read More

RI: R.I.'s higher education chief steps down

By Jennifer D. Jordan, The Providence Journal

Tuesday marked the last day for Jack R. Warner, Rhode Island's higher education commissioner since 2002. With his departure, Rhode Island lost three education leaders on the same day. Read More

TX: Perry beats feds' deadline for school funds

By Lindsay Kastner, The San Antonio Express-News

Texas Gov. Rick Perry met a deadline Wednesday to request federal stabilization funds for education — with 18 minutes to spare. Read More

US: States, districts in delicate dance on stimulus

By Alyson Klein, Education Week

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is clear: States are on the hook for advancing education improvement goals spelled out in the law as a condition for receiving up to $100 million in economic-stimulus aid to education. Read More

New section follows stimulus spending

The enormity and complexity of the federal stimulus program weigh heavily on cash-strapped states, which are required to meet numerous application and reporting deadlines for the $49 billion in recovery money flowing into their treasuries this year. Follow how states are managing their share through extensive original reporting and graphics in Stateline.org’s special section on the stimulus program. Read More

Tracking the recession: Budget deadline looms

By Stephen C. Fehr, Stateline.org Staff Writer

Unlike the federal government, states have to balance their budgets. But several states still have not completed spending plans for the fiscal year that begins July 1. Read More

Three sticking points could stunt stimulus education reform

By Allison Armour-Garb, Special to Stateline.org

President Obama is asking states to make education reforms in exchange for almost $40 billion in stimulus funds for schools. But his aspirations may be on a collision course with competing realities, such as pressures to use the money to save teachers' jobs, writes Allison Armour-Garb with the Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government in a commentary for Stateline.org.
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WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

	The Center on Education Policy released its annual report on the state of high school exit exams on Sept. 6.
	Education Week released its annual "Diploma Counts" report June 12, with the news that more than 1.2 million students will not graduate this year.
	The U.S. Department of Education reported June 7 on the huge gap between students scoring proficient on state tests versus students who are proficient on the National Assessment of Education Progress, raising questions about the difficulty of state tests.
	The Center on Education Policy released June 5 the first report to analyze state tests and find that reading and math scores have improved since the enactment of No Child Left Behind.
	The Education Trust released comprehensive state summaries Dec. 13, detailing student performance on federal assessments, the achievement gap, state demographics, and more. Ed Trust also released a report Dec. 20 breaking down school funding by state.

Achieve
Achieve was formed as a partnership between by 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.

Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges
AGB provides information on governance and leadership in higher education to academic governing boards, campus CEOs and other senior-level campus administrators.

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.

Council of Chief State School Officers
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.

Council of State Governments
An organization of state leaders who share policy information.

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.

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

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

Education Week
A resource for recent news and developments affecting K-12 and higher education.

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

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

National Association of State Boards of Education
This non-profit association strives to strengthen state leadership in educational policymaking and advocates for equal access to education.

National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
An independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization made up of and geared toward classroom teachers.

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.

National Conference of State Legislatures Education Page
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.

National Education Writers Association
A national organization of education reporters that provides information with the goal of improving reporting on education.

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.

Rural Challenge Policy Program
The Rural Challenge 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.

Statescape's BillFinder
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.

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

Read the latest news, analysis and research on the economic crisis in the states in Stateline.org's new Recession and Recovery special section.

The Stimulus and the
States
Follow how states are managing the stimulus money and which programs are receiving funding as part of the recovery effort using Stateline.org's stimulus special section.

Click here to read summaries by state or issue and other graphics about the 2009 legislative sessions so far.

Click here for Stateline.org's interactive map following the recession and stimulus in all 50 states.

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Weekly Original Content.

Weekly Content Archive

Stateline.org has compiled an extensive list of state issue political blogs to make it convenient for you to follow state government.

If a blog you find interesting and informative is not on our list, tell us about it by sending an email to editor@stateline.org.

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Blogs organized by State

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Education news

Stimulus eases community college troubles

US: Facing deficits, some states cut summer school