The Early Word: Today’s Education News
Education news from around the country for July 21, 2009.
LA Times: Budget Accord Reached
Education would also lose billions of dollars, although the deal skirts suspension of voter-approved funding formulas. Schools are expected to have to increase the number of students in classes, lay off teachers and scale back their offerings. Education lobbyists won a provision that requires the state to ultimately pay back money it is cutting, but districts are struggling now.
Wall Street Journal: Detroit Schools on the Brink
DETROIT — Detroit’s public-school system, beset by massive deficits and widespread corruption, is on the brink of following local icons GM and Chrysler into bankruptcy court.
Even after millions of dollars in budget cuts in the spring, including 29 school closings and thousands of layoffs, the district started the fiscal year this month with a $259 million deficit…
Denver Business Journal: Colorado Considers Higher-Ed Cuts
Colorado will seek a waiver that would let it reduce state higher-education funding below a floor level set by the federal government without losing $760 million in stabilization money, Gov. Bill Ritter said Monday.
“We’re going to attempt to get that waiver only so we can have the flexibility that we get from the waiver,” Ritter said in a conference call with reporters. “We are looking for that flexibility.”
Washington Post: Latest Fenty Budget Cuts Funds for Schools Evaluation
Mayor Adrian M. Fenty has eliminated funding for an independent evaluator assigned to assess the progress of public school reform under Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee, according to the revised 2010 budget he submitted to the D.C. Council late Friday.
Financial Times: Virginia’s Schools Forced to Learn Some Difficult Lessons
Chesterfield County school district in Virginia began the year in dire straits… The budget for 2009-2010was $50m (€35m, £30m) short…
Some 278 teachers, aides, secretaries, bus drivers, cafeteria workers and caretakers were about to lose their jobs. Advanced science courses, departments for art and music and reading coaches for special-needs students were in danger of being cut.
Thanks to $37m in stimulus funding, 133 teachers and 145 support staff jobs were saved. Books for the youngest children were put back in the budget, and maths and literacy coaches were reinstated.
