Capitol Recap
Education Funding
Text Process Referred to Board
After the discovery of errors in two history textbooks set off a controversy, Virginia lawmakers debated a measure that would have revised adoption procedures, but decided to refer the question to the state board of education, which has authority over textbook approval.
College & Workforce Readiness
College Help for Immigrants Passes
Lawmakers in Maryland approved a hotly debated bill that allows undocumented immigrants to enroll in community colleges at in-state tuition rates if they can prove they attended state high schools for three years and their parents pay state taxes.
Teaching
Arizona Law Puts Tight Rein on Ethnic Studies Classes
A ban on courses designed primarily for students of a particular ethnicity sparks controversy as the state copes with protests over a tough, new immigration law.
Budget & Finance
Furloughs Bedevil Hawaii Lawmakers
| Hawaii | Faced with a $142.6 million hole in the education budget for the 2011 fiscal year, which prompted the state to declare 17 furlough days for both the current and upcoming school year, educators and officials in Hawaii are struggling to find solutions to restore the lost instructional time.
Education Funding
Alaska Ramps Up Education Funding
| Alaska | Funding for K-12 education in Alaska won an increase in this year鈥檚 legislative session, which wrapped up April 19.
School & District Management
Ethics Bill Highlights Ga. Session
The measure would let the governor remove local board members for ethics violations.
School Choice & Charters
Education Bills Die in Ky. Legislature
| Kentucky | Both major education reform bills introduced in the course of Kentucky鈥檚 2010 regular session died after passing one chamber of the legislature but failing to advance in the other.
Education Funding
Continued Fiscal Woes Force Idaho Ed. Cuts
A major revenue shortfall forced Idaho lawmakers to cut K-12 education programs by 7.5 percent.
Teaching Profession
Nebraska Approves Performance Pay, K-12 Funding Boost
Teacher performance pay may soon be coming to the Cornhusker State.
Education
Tenure Rules Tightened as Md. Gears Up for Race to Top Bid
Teachers would have to put in three years, instead of two, to earn tenure, under recently passed legislation.
Education Funding
Stimulus Allows Hike in Education Subsidy
Pennsylvania earned the distinction in 2009 of being the state with the longest budget impasse.
States
New Governor Backs Charters, Vouchers
The Garden State begins 2010 with a new governor, Chris Christie, a Republican who ousted one-term Democratic incumbent Jon S. Corzine in November.
Federal
Charter School Lid Removed in Illinois
Lawmakers eased a cap on charter schools and committed to establishing a system to collect longitudinal data on student progress.
School & District Management
Hawaii Chief Eyes Next Year
Schools Superintendent Patricia Hamamoto says she will ask legislators to change state law to give her more power to restructure failing schools.