document.write("Lawmakers hear from educators, administrators on STAAR test
\n(Austin KVUE (ABC) 24 © 01/24/2012)
AUSTIN -- It was standing room only as educators, parents, and children alike arrived early to get a seat inside the crowded Capitol Extension hearing room.\n\n\nKaren Peck drove to Austin from Houston for Monday's hearing by the Texas ");
document.write("House Committee on Public Education to discuss the implementation of the state's new STAAR test.\n\n\nPeck's ninth-grade son in Spring Branch Independent School District ...\n
\nCO-EXISTING CONDITIONS MAY EXPLAIN WHY AUTISM DIAGNOSIS CAN CHANGE
\n(Cypress Times © 01/24/2012)
Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are more likely to ");
document.write("have a co-occurring neurodevelopmental or psychiatric condition, such as a learning disability or depression. Differentiating between these diagnoses can be challenging, and some children originally diagnosed with ASD no longer meet the criteria for an ASD diagnosis as they grow older. \n\nIn the study, \"Co-occurring Conditions and Chan...\n
\nAISD Investigates Claims i");
document.write("nto Alleged Abuse Against Special Needs Students
\n(Midland KWES (NBC) 9 © 01/24/2012)
by Audrey Castoreno\nNewsWest 9\n\nANDREWS - For weeks, we've been digging for details into the alleged abuse of several special needs children in Andrews allegedly at the hands of their teacher and two aides.\n\nOne parent claims she even put a tape recorder on her son's wheelchair to try and catch the teacher in the act.\n\nWe have a copy of the tape and there's no question, it is very...\n
\nU.S. Supreme Court declines to hear Forest Grove School District case
\n(Oregonian © 01/24/2012)
A nine-year lawsuit involving special education and the Forest Grove School District is finally over. \n\nThe U.S. Supreme Court declined Monday to hear an appeal from the family of a student with special needs who sought reimbursement for private school tuition after his parents enrolled him without informing t");
document.write("he district. \n\n\"We're thrilled,\" said attorney Nancy Hungerford, who represented the dist...\n
\nTexas school district axes athletics in effort to survive
\n(Bryan-College Station Eagle © 01/22/2012)
PREMONT -- Eliminating high school athletics during a school year is unusual, especially in a sports-loving state such as Texas. \n\nBut th");
document.write("at's exactly what's happening in this small ranching community where the school district is taking desperate measures to prevent a state-mandated closure due to poor academics. The Premont Independent School District is even deploying its superintendent, a consta...\n
\nRetired educator takes bench as municipal judge
\n(Canyon News © 01/22/201");
document.write("2)
After 22 years in education, Robert ?Bob? Splawn is now on the bench as municipal judge for the City of Canyon.\n\nBob was previously director of special education for Canyon ISD. After retiring in 2010 because of health issues, he was looking for a part time job to keep him busy.\n\n?I retired three years earlier than I had intended because it just was really impossible for me to work full time. Even...\n
\nMarshall ISD faces federal sanctions
\n(Longview News © 01/21/2012)
MARSHALL ? Federal corrective actions soon could be imposed on\nMarshall ISD.\n \n \n\nThe school district has not met federal Adequate Yearly Progress\nstandards since 2007 and is in the final stage before federal\nintervention, according to the Texas Education Agency.\n \n\n \n \n \n\n\n?It is unusual for a district to get to this level,? said Debbie\nRatcliffe, TEA director of co...\n
\nNew autism criteria could affect diagnoses
\n(Pittsburgh Post Gazette © 01/21/2012)
Proposed changes in the definition of autism would sharply reduce the skyrocketing rate at which the disorder is diagnosed and might make it harder for many people who would no longer meet the criteria to get health, educational and social services, a new analysis suggests.\n\nThe definition is b");
document.write("eing reassessed by an expert panel appointed by the American Psychiatric Association, which is completing...\n
\nCoronado special education teacher receives state innovator award
\n(Lubbock Avalanche-Journal © 01/19/2012)
Multiple circumstances in Gail Douglas? life led her to become a special education teacher.\r\n\r\nShe had been diagnos");
document.write("ed with dyslexia. Her mother was a speech pathologist, and her father was a social worker.\r\n\r\nFor the past 16 years, she taught job skills and life skills to her Coronado High School special education students while making them a part of the school environment. \r\n\r\nHer efforts recentl...\n
\nNew Definition of Autism Will Exclude Many, Study Suggests\n(New York Times (State Version) © 01/19/2012) (Registration Required)\n
Proposed changes in the definition of autism would sharply reduce the skyrocketing rate at which the disorder is diagnosed and might make it harder for many people who would no longer meet the criteria to get health, educational and social services, a new analysis suggests. \n\r\n\r\r\n\r\nThe definition is now being reassessed by an expert panel appointed by the American Psychiatric Association, w...\n
\nApple reinvents textbooks with iBooks 2, iBooks Author apps
\n(Orlando Sentinel © 01/19/2012) (Registration Required)\n
Apple this morning unveiled iBooks 2, a new iPad app that allows publishers to embed movies into digital textbooks; and users can create instant study cards, highlight text with their fingers, as well as maneuver 3D graphics on their devices.\n\niBooks Author app for Mac ");
document.write("computers, also announced today, will help writers create digital textbooks they can publish to the iBookstore.\n\nThe highly antici...\n
\nPrescription for learning: School focuses on students with learning differences
\n(El Paso Times © 12/07/2011)
Traditional learning is thrown out the window as educators at El Paso Bridges Academy a");
document.write("ccommodate students with learning disabilities.\n\n\"We're so specialized that our tuition is a medical expense,\" said Irma Keys, director of the academy. \"We are part of the prescription. A lot of these kids come to us frustrated because before they head to school, they are expected to learn -- and when that doesn...\n
\nClosing arguments raise questions of truthfulnes");
document.write("s in Portland Public Schools special ed whistleblower suit
\n(Oregonian © 12/07/2011)
A bruising 13-day trial testing whether top Portland Public Schools officials demoted a special education principal because she stood up for workplace safety and special education students' rights was turned over to a Multnomah County jury Tuesday. \n\nStacey Sibley, founding principal of Portland's Pioneer Program schools for students with disabilities, concluded her case that she is a wronged whis...\n
\nSurvey says teacher morale low statewide
\n(Cleburne Times-Review © 12/03/2011) (Registration Required)\n
— \n According to a report released earlier this month by the Texas American Federation of Teachers, teacher morale across the state has fallen to a record low, with many educators considering alternative employment.\n\n\n\n Teachers who responded recalled a time when they wer");
document.write("e fired-up to educate the next generation, but now feel their school days are spent stressing about their job situation. A...\n
\nHochberg, House Public Ed Expert, Wont Run Again
\n(Texas Tribune © 12/03/2011)
The Legislature's foremost expert on school finance and one of its top public education advocates, state Rep. Scott Hochberg, ");
document.write("D-Houston, confirmed this afternoon that he won't seek re-election next year.\n\nHochberg, who took office in 1993 and is now the vice chairman of the House Education Committee and the chairman of the education subcommittee on the House Appropriations Committee, said the time...\n
\nLa Feria schools mull cutting stipends
\n(Unknown © 09/10/2011");
document.write(")
......\n
\nSchool districts struggle to find strong leaders
\n(Amarillo Globe-News © 05/27/2011)
Finding someone to run a school district is no picnic.\n\nQualified superintendent candidates are few and far between, and there are other, less obvious factors school boards need to consider when searching for a leader.\n\n\"You shou");
document.write("ldn't have to hire on personality levels, but the personality of the superintendent needs to match the personality of the community,\" said Gary Bigham, a West Texas A&...\n
\nSchool districts ask state, 'What is bullying?'
\n(Abilene Reporter-News © 05/26/2011) (Registration Required)\n
As Texas legislators");
document.write(" are prepping to pass an anti-bullying bill in Austin, local educators are hoping the state provides clarification of what bullying actually is beyond the basic definition of one person picking on another.\n\nTexas lawmakers have approved legislation to require schools to adopt anti-bullying policies and improve prevention methods.\n\nThe Texas Senate voted this week for a bill tha...\n
\nBudget ready for a final Saturday vote
\n(Austin American-Statesman © 05/26/2011) (Registration Required)\n
The 2012-13 budget is headed to the floor.\n\n\nThe House and Senate conference committee this morning voted out House Bill 1. Democratic state Rep. Sylvester Turner of Houston was the sole the nay vote.\n\n\nThe total $172 billion two-year budget is $15 billion less — 8 percent — than the 2010-11 budget, while state dollars come in 2 percent than than the current budget.\n\n\n“This was o...\n
\n
TEA releases preliminary statewide TAKS results
\n(Austin American-Statesman © 05/26/2011) (Registration Required)\n
Students’ test scores on the state-mandated Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills test have ticked up since they were first administered, the Texas Education Agency said in a statement. \n\n\nThe");
document.write(" preliminary results show that gains were made over the years despite higher passing requirements and the inclusion of the results for some special education students that occurred in later years o...\n
\nTexas ranks 43rd on spending per pupil list
\n(Harlingen Valley Morning Star © 05/26/2011)
McALLEN — New U.S. Census Bureau d");
document.write("ata show Texas is the ninth-lowest state for per pupil spending, a number that will drop after state lawmakers finish gutting public school budgets soon.\n\nAnd though Rio Grande Valley schools on average spend more than the scant state average, the student population along the U.S.–Mexico border requires much more money, not less, said Wayne Pierce, exe...\n
\nA");
document.write("bout the school finance issue
\n(Austin American-Statesman © 05/25/2011) (Registration Required)\n
Why must the Legislature pass ?a school finance law now?\n\nLawmakers are poised to short school districts $4 billion below what they are owed under current law. If they do not take any action, funding would continue to schools at current levels for the first year of the two-year budget cycle. But by February 2013, the state would run out of money for schools.\n\nWhy is school finance such ?a difficul...\n
\nSenate leader warns against House's quick fix on school aid
\n(Austin American-Statesman © 05/25/2011) (Registration Required)\n
Updated: 10:55 p.m. Tuesday, May 24, 2011\n\n\nPublished: 10:50 p.m. Tuesday, May 24, 2011\n\n\n\nA looming deadline has ratcheted up the pressure on legislative leaders to cra");
document.write("ft a solution to the school finance problem that has long bedeviled them. But the Senate budget chief warned Tuesday that the quick fix now being envisioned by the House could have ...\n
\nDistrict, Pines police investigating driver and aide
\n(Orlando Sentinel © 05/25/2011) (Registration Required)\n
* \n \n ");
document.write(" \n \n \n \n \n * \n \n \n \n \n \n \n * \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n * \n \n \n \n \n * \n Tweet\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n (0)\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n \n\n\n\n\n \n ...\n
\nEducation advocates rally outside House chamber
\n(Amarillo Globe-News © 05/22/2011)
AUSTIN, Texas ? A loud group of parents, teachers and education advocates rallied outside the House chamber in the Texas Capitol to protest a state budget that will cut $4 billion from education, warning lawmakers who supported the cuts that they will vote them out in November.\nThe protest Saturday came on the heels of a budget agreement negotiators announced Friday that educators say will devasta...\n
\nBracing for Reductions
\n(Harlingen Valley Morning Star © 05/22/2011)
HARLINGEN — The Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District has been bracing for reductions in state aid to education that could cost the district as much as $15 million.\nSchool district officials said in March that the district could lose $5 million for each 5 percent reduction in state aid.\nTo b");
document.write("egin the savings immediately, HCISD offered 100 employees an early incentive program of $...\n
\nObama: Schools can improve with right incentives
\n(Boston.com © 05/21/2011)
WASHINGTON—Trying to make his case for overhauling the nation's education laws, President Barack Obama is highlighting progress at a Tennessee high school a");
document.write("s evidence that the proper incentives can help all schools succeed.\n\nObama focused his weekly radio and Internet address Saturday on Memphis' Booker T. Washington High School, where the president delivered the commencement address Monday....\n
\nObama calls for reform of ?No Child Left Behind?
\n(CNN.com © 05/21/2011)
Washington (CNN)");
document.write(" - President Barack Obama used his weekly address on Saturday to call on Congress to reform \"No Child Left Behind\" – the controversial educational policy implemented by President George W. Bush in 2002.\n\n\n?We need to promote reform that gets results while encouraging communities to figure out what?s best for their kids. That why it?s so important that Congress replace No Chil...\n
\nResearch Uncovers Raised Rate of Autism
\n(Unknown © 05/18/2011)
......\n
\nCorporal punishment bill falls in House
\n(Austin American-Statesman © 05/12/2011) (Registration Required)\n
A bill by Rep. Alma Allen, D-Houston, that would have required parental");
document.write(" approval of schools’ use of corporal punishment failed this afternoon in a close vote in the Texas House.\n\n\nIt went down 73-69. \n\n\nThe bill wouldn’t abolish corporal punishment, Allen said. Rather, the bill would have given parents the chance to decide whether it would be used on their children. \n\n\n“This is a...\n
\nTexas School Districts Save Some");
document.write(" Jobs
\n(Dallas KERA (PBS) 13 © 05/12/2011)
Many North Texas school districts will be able to save jobs, thanks to every Texas district getting its share of $830 million from the Federal Education Jobs Fund. KERA's Bill Zeeble has more.\n\n The money had been tied up since last year. Dallas ISD will get nearly $30 million for next year's budget. Fort Worth, more than $13.5 million. \n\n Fort Worth Superintendent Melody Johnson wants to keep m...\n
\nFulton schools cutting special education paraprofessionals
\n(Atlanta Journal-Constitution © 05/11/2011) (Registration Required)\n
Fulton County schools will abolish 202 special education paraprofessional jobs and 46 teaching positions, officials said Tuesday.\n\n\nSome of the positions are vacant and all but one of the 46 teachers are expected to move into jobs where there have been retirements or resignations.\n\n\nBut 116 of t");
document.write("he system's 620 special ed parapros are to get word Wednesday they're losing their jobs, a move that som...\n
\nLocal school districts won't spend on jobs until they know amount of state funding
\n(Austin American-Statesman © 05/11/2011) (Registration Required)\n
Published: 9:56 p.m. Tuesday, May");
document.write(" 10, 2011\n\n\n\nCentral Texas school districts have reacted to the news that they would get millions in federal funding to help save jobs with caution.\n\nThe Texas Education Agency told districts Monday what their portions of the $830 million in federal aid would be. The Austin school district will get $13.8 million; the Round Rock district wil...\n
\nFederal f");
document.write("unds may avert half of Fort Worth school layoffs
\n(Fort Worth Star-Telegram © 05/11/2011) (Registration Required)\n
FORT WORTH -- School Superintendent Melody Johnson recommended Tuesday that the district use $13.6 million in federal money to save the jobs of about half the employees who faced layoffs this year.The federal education aid was tied up in a political dispute for months but was released to Texas school districts this week. Tarrant County-area districts received a total of $56.7 million.Fort Worth of...\n
\nStudents with special needs get a treat
\n(Taylor Daily Press © 05/11/2011)
On Monday, Taylor ISD?s students with special needs got a\nspecial treat.\n \n \n\nThanks to the support of the East Williamson County Special\nEducation Co-op, a total of 55 students shuttled over to The Dell\nDiamond in Round Rock to watch the Round Rock Express take on the\nNashv");
document.write("ille Sounds in the series finale.\n \n\n\n\n\n\n?It was the first baseball game we have ever taken our students to\nand it was a ...\n
\nKaty ISD teachers fulfill dream by organizing camp for autistic youths
\n(Ultimate Katy © 05/11/2011)
Katy resident Renee Polk felt her stress level increase every time she put another folded T-shirt in her");
document.write(" son's bag. \n\n\nNot only was 10-year-old Garrett headed to his first camp, it was an overnight camp. And Garrett, a pupil at McRoberts Elementary School, is autistic.\n\n\nThe camp was organized by Katy Independent School District teachers Suzette Steward-Coates and Sally Schwartzel. \n\n\n\"Garrett's v...\n
\nTexas Watchdog: School systems hang on to tens of millions in res");
document.write("erve funds while laying off teachers
\n(Houston Chronicle © 05/10/2011) (Registration Required)\n
Texas' largest school systems are laying off teachers by the hundreds and thousands while hanging on to the tens of millions of dollars in their \"rainy day\" and reserve funds -- and some in those communities, including some teachers, say that's a bad idea. \n\nThe Houston public schools , the state's largest school system, has laid off more than 700 teachers to solve its budget crunch while having $...\n
\nFederal education aid finally starts flowing in Texas
\n(San Antonio Express-News © 05/10/2011) (Registration Required)\n
School districts throughout Texas got some surprising news Monday: $831 million of federal aid tied up for months in a high-profile battle between Gov. Rick Perry and Democratic Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Austin is now available to ");
document.write("retain and hire teachers.\n\nBexar County districts stand to get $56.6 million, a shot in the arm after most of them recently eliminated hundreds of teaching positions and sev...\n
\nJob market turns on new teachers as economic woes hit local districts
\n(Fort Hood Herald © 05/09/2011)
For many teachers, the profession is more of a voca");
document.write("tion than a job, rich with opportunities to make a difference and effect change in future generations. \n\nThe gig is not without its stressors — paper airplanes, helicopter or absent parents, mountains of papers to grade — but it has traditionally come with certain perks, including a reliable job market; for much of American history, th...\n
\nSome metro, ");
document.write("state school districts cut costs by sharing top executives
\n(Unknown © 05/09/2011)
......\n
\nLFISD grapples with looming cuts in state aid
\n(Harlingen Valley Morning Star © 05/08/2011)
By CHARLENE VANDINI\ncharlenev@valleystar.com\n956-430-6244\n\nLA FERIA — The school district has cut 20 employee");
document.write("s since December, and more cuts are possible as it grapples with the prospect of reduced state aid to education.\nNow the school district is considering changes that would alter the figures on the current budget, including reductions in athletic coaching stipends and reconfiguring the ...\n
\nTexas House bill could change class size, teacher pay scale\n(Austin KEYE (CBS) 42 © 04/27/2011)
A bill scheduled for debate in the Texas House that was originally slated to change the 22 to 1 student-to-teacher ratio in Kindergarten to Fourth Grade is being reassessed according to the bill's author.\n\nRepresentative Rob Eissler, R-Woodlands, told KEYE TV early Tuesday, he filed an amendment that would remove the proposed change in classroom size originally set in his bill. Instead of changing...\n
\nNorthside cuts 705 more slots
\n(San Antonio Express-News © 04/27/2011) (Registration Required)\n
Northside Independent School District?s board of trustees Tuesday unanimously approved sweeping cuts of $43.8 million to next year?s budget, eliminating 705 positions.\n\nBetween those and an earlier batch in February, the cuts total more than $61.4 million and 973 positions from this and next year?s budgets.\n\nThrough attrition, displaced employees wi");
document.write("ll be given other district positions, staffers sa...\n
\nWhat $7.8 Billion less means for Texas school districts
\n(Unknown © 04/27/2011)
......\n
\nLiving with autism: Disorder can be tough for autistic child's siblings, too
\n(El Paso Times © 04/25/2011)
There is no question about it -- Amarani loves her older brother, Jimmy. \"I love everything about my brother,\" said Amarani, who, her mother says, is 5 years old going on 14. \"I like playing board games like Monopoly, Monopoly Junior and Operation with him. I like playing Barbies versus wrestlers with him, too.\"\n\nHowever, there are times when Amarani, whose family and friends call her \"Mamas,\" ...\n
<");
document.write("/p>\n
In Dallas, Magnet Schools Bear Brunt of Budget Cuts
\n(Unknown © 04/25/2011)
......\n
\nChanges mean tougher roa");
document.write("d for schools
\n(Austin KXAN (NBC) 36 © 04/24/2011)
Ban thwarts weekend plans\n\nAustin officials banned open flames at all of the city's parks …\n\n\n\nFirefighters battling Elgin brushfire\n\n Firefighters in Elgin have put out a two acre fire that was …\n\n\n\nPregnant woman: boyfriend strangled me\n\nA pregnant Austin woman says her boyfriend strangled and jammed…\n\n\n\nFirefighters plan steps before Tuesday\n\nWest Texas firefighters battlin...\n
\nCity flubs $600M special-ed fed funding
\n(New York Post © 04/24/2011)
The city has failed to collect nearly $600 million in federal reimbursement for special-education services such as speech, physical therapy and counseling over the last six years, The Post has learned. \n\n As budget cuts threaten teacher layoffs, the Department of Education has instead shelled out millions more in local-taxpayer dollars for the student services, which c");
document.write("ost $1.2 billion last year. ...\n
\nLawmakers want to hold pre-K accountable
\n(San Antonio Express-News © 04/24/2011) (Registration Required)\n
AUSTIN ? Reacting to criticism over a plan to outsource pre-kindergarten accountability, a state Senate committee decided last week that it would be better for the Tex");
document.write("as Education Agency, rather than a commercial vendor, to ensure that 4-year-olds are ready for kindergarten.\n\nThe change of heart blunts strong feelings from some educators and pre-K advocates who howled over a plan to use a private ...\n
\n2011 Rankings of More Than 5,800 Public Schools
\n(Unknown © 04/24/2011)
......\n
\n");
document.write("Education commissioner tosses controversial TAKS measure
\n(Austin American-Statesman © 04/23/2011) (Registration Required)\n
The Texas Education Agency announced Friday that effective this year, it will discontinue use of the Texas Projection Measure, which allowed districts to count as passing certain students who fail ");
document.write("the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills but are projected to pass within three years.\n\n\nCritics charged the system gave a false boost to districts. In the past, state education Commissioner Robert S...\n
\nSharyland schools may try open enrollment, with tuition
\n(Harlingen Valley Morning Star © 04/22/2011)
NEAR MISSION — T");
document.write("he Sharyland school board gave an unofficial thumbs-up Wednesday to potentially allow open enrollment in their district, provided administrators charge families for the transfer students.\nSuperintendent Scott Owings said parents often try to get into Sharyland schools because of their high performance and limited open enrollment, a policy he stressed is only in an exploratory...\n
\nKaty teacher up for Regis and Kelly Top Teacher award
\n(KTRK 13 News © 04/22/2011)
KATY, TX (KTRK) -- \nA big honor for a Katy ISD special education teacher -- she's among 12 finalists from across the county up for the 'Live! with Regis and Kelly' top teacher award. \n\n\nRelated Content\n\nMore: Top Teacher Week -- Live! with Regis and Kelly\n\nMore: Got a story idea? Let us know! Debra Brown works at Memorial Parkway Junior High School and was nominated by a parent of one of h...\n
\nArlington superintendent cuts 104 more jobs
\n(Unknown © 04/22/2011)
......\n
\nFight over rainy day fund taking shape
\n(Austin American-State");
document.write("sman © 04/21/2011) (Registration Required)\n
Senate Finance poised to take money out of rainy day fund, House readies for controversial bill to make class sizes bigger and a Democratic blogger questions the value of supposed electability.\n\n\n(Happy birthday to Rep. Helen Giddings, Leticia Salazar in the secretary of state’s office, and Rachael Schreiber in Rep. Joe Driver’s office.)\n\n\nThe Battle of San Jacinto was 175 years ago to...\n
\nSenate: We need $3 billion from rainy day fund for budget
\n(Austin American-Statesman © 04/21/2011) (Registration Required)\n
Senate Finance Chairman Steve Ogden said $3 billion would need to be drawn from the state's rainy day fund to pay for additional spending in the upper chamber's 2012-13 budget.\n\nThe Finance Committee has spent the past two days cementing the building blocks for its more generous alternative to ");
document.write("House Bill 1, a bare-bones budget bill that makes deep cuts to education, health care and more.\n\nThe fina...\n
\nOfficials Defend Decision to Cuff 1st Grader
\n(Corpus Christi KRIS (NBC) 6 © 04/21/2011)
NEW YORK - The mother of a special education first-grader wants to know why her son was handcuffed when he became upset while decorat");
document.write("ing an Easter egg at his New York City school.\nJessica Anderson tells the Daily News that 7-year-old Joseph became upset because his egg-painting didn't look the way he wanted. She says he was taken to the hospital wearing metal handcuffs even though she told the sch...\n
\nWhen party lines start to blur ... Patrick blurs them further?
\n(Dallas M");
document.write("orning News © 04/21/2011) (Registration Required)\n
As Senate budget writers debated school finance Wednesday afternoon, much of the talk was about fixing things in 2015 and 2016 -- when lawmakers hope they'll have money to undo some of the stuff they did in 2006. Things got silly, though, when Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, weighed in on an amendment by fellow Republican Robert Duncan of Lubbock.\n\n\n\"My fear is that next session, we'll be in the same...\n
\nTexas Senate budget plan is short by $3 billion
\n(Houston Chronicle © 04/21/2011) (Registration Required)\n
AUSTIN — Texas Senate budget-writers so far have fallen $3 billion short of paying for their spending plan for the next two years, and they could turn to the rainy day fund as a fallback to make up the difference under a plan by their chairman. \n\nIf so, the move could set up a face-off with the Hous");
document.write("e, where Appropriations Chairman Jim Pitts said he doesn't see the necessary super-majority su...\n
\nBowie board cuts school stipends
\n(Wichita Times Record © 04/21/2011)
Bowie school board members continued their cost-cutting efforts this week, slashing the 2011-'12 stipend schedule by $100,000 to $125,000.\n\nIn anticipation of stat");
document.write("e funding cuts of anywhere from 10 to 15 percent, school districts across the state are searching for ways to cut their budgets. Bowie Superintendent Steven Monkres had warned his board this may be one area to reduce to save money.\n\nNext...\n
\nSchool for students with mental disabilities shutting down
\n(Houston KHOU (CBS) 11 © 04/20/2011)
HOUSTON – A school for children with mental disabilities is shutting down due to budget cuts.\n\n\n\n\n\nThe New Day School, located on the 3600 block of W. Dallas, opened in 1996. Since then, it’s been staffed by psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, special education instructors, social workers, therapists and speech pathologists.\n\n\n\n\n\nThe students range in age from six to 22 years old.\n\n\n...\n
\nMany With Autism Also Have Treatment-Resistant Epilepsy: Study
\n(MSN © 04/20/2011)
Their seizures also tend to start earlier in childhood, research suggests WEDNESDAY, April 20 (HealthDay News) -- Many people with autism also have epilepsy that doesn't respond to treatment, a new study suggests. Researchers looked at the medical records of 127 children and adults aged 3 to 49 with autism who had had one or more seizures. The patients had been referred to the NYU Comprehensive Ep...\n
\nLCPS To Be Audited By State
\n(El Paso KVIA (ABC) 7 © 04/19/2011)
LAS CRUCES, New Mexico -- The Las Cruces Public School District is accused of cheating the system to get more money than the State feels they need.\n\nSuperintendent Stan Rounds said he stands behind the District?s reported numbers, but instead of trusting LCPS, Governor Susana Martinez said the Stat");
document.write("e will conduct its own research.\n\n\"We're not gaming the system; we're not cheating the system,\" Round...\n
\nAztec, Bloomfield schools to undergo audits
\n(El Paso Times © 04/19/2011)
The abnormal growth in those two programs is a trend throughout the state's 89 districts, though only 34 initially will be audited. Districts chosen for");
document.write(" the first round of audits, such as Aztec's and Bloomfield's, must have exceeded the average statewide growth in one category by more than 200 percent, the statistical bar set for this week's audits.\n\n Growth generally means a program can acquire a...\n
\nMarlin ISD placed under TEA conservatorship
\n(Marlin Democrat © 04/19/2011)
By ");
document.write("Jana Logan\n \n \n\nEditor & Publisher\n \n\n\nAfter four consecutive years of performance problems, Marlin ISD\nrecently received some much-needed reinforcement as the Texas\nEducation Agency (TEA) increased its intervention level from\nmonitor to conservator. A management team consisting of two\nconservators has since been assigned to oversee progress at a\ndistrict level.\n\nIn a February letter to...\n
\nState's demands forced school costs to shoot up
\n(Unknown © 03/22/2011)
......\n
\nSchools cope with dwindling budgets, staff for special ed
\n(El Paso Times © 03/21/2011)
Angelica Nieto will have to make the same-size staff manage more students in Ysleta's special ");
document.write("education programs. \n\nShe is not alone as area school districts brace for budget cuts in the face of Texas facing a nearly $27 billion deficit.\n\nSchool district officials said they have already made cuts in special education, leaving them with minimal staff members as it is. In the past three years El Pas...\n
\nTexas Legislature considering education issues other th");
document.write("an funding
\n(Fort Worth Star-Telegram © 03/21/2011) (Registration Required)\n
Most of the education bills getting Texas lawmakers' attention this session center on school funding. But there are dozens of other bills that propose changes in how school districts operate day-to-day and what children do at school.On Thursday, the Senate passed a \"truth in grading\" bill that would bar school districts from creating minimum grade requirements rather than grades based on merit. Th...\n
\nCan private sector pick up slack as public jobs are cut?
\n(Unknown © 03/20/2011)
......\n
\nSchools dispute conservative group's claim of 1-to-1 administrator-t");
document.write("eacher ratio
\n(Unknown © 03/20/2011)
......\n
\nPressure mounts for Texas curriculum redo
\n(Houston Chronicle © 03/19/2011) (Registration Required)\n
AUSTIN – Pressure on the State Board of Education to reopen controversial social studies curriculum standards increased t");
document.write("his week when three House Republican leaders expressed discomfort with the new standards and the way they were adopted.\n\n\nHouse Appropriations Chairman Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie, Public Education Chairman Rob Eissler, R-The Woodlands, and House Administration Chairman Charli...\n
\nTAB urges maintaining pre-K funding
\n(Austin Business Journal ©");
document.write("; 03/18/2011)
A report released Thursday by the Texas Association of Business urges lawmakers not to cut funding for proven prekindergarten educational programs and instructional materials.\n\n\n?We cannot turn a blind eye to the role that early childhood education plays in the long-term prosperity and workforce readiness of Texas,? TAB President Bill Hammond wrote in the eight-page report entitled ?Dream Big, Tex...\n
\nTEA Looking at Letting School Districts Draw From Fund Balance During Budget Crisis
\n(Dallas Observer © 03/18/2011)
About a month ago, Dallas Independent School District spokesman Jon Dahlander told Unfair Park that even during this current budget crisis, the district has no intention of touching its fund balance, which, he said, should sit at somewhere near the $100-million mark. Explained Dahlander, the DISD's reserve fund is not like the state's Rainy Day Fund, which is replenished by oil and gas ");
document.write("\nproceeds. ...\n
\nState to move forward with STAAR testing
\n(Temple Daily Telegram © 03/18/2011) (Registration Required)\n
The STAAR will make Texas children bright, or so hopes the Texas Education Agency, as the state Legislature moves forward with implementing the exam next school year despite woes from dis");
document.write("tricts across the state. \n\nThe STAAR, or State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness, exam is on schedule to replace the TAKS tests starting next school year. The new exam is more rigorous, according to the TE...\n
\nDistrict investigates special-ed school
\n(Washington Post © 03/18/2011) (Registration Required)\n
A Northwest Washington private school that has collected more than $16 million in tuition from the District over the past two years to serve special education students is under investigation for lax security, high rates of truancy and inadequate academic programs.\r\n\r\nOfficials of Rock Creek Academy said they have done their best to serve a population of emotionally and physically disabled children...\n
\nObama aims to revise No Child Left Behind
\n(Washington Post © 03/18/2011) (Registration Required)\n
President Obama will mount a fresh attempt this year to rewrite the No Child Left Behind education law, a top administration official said this week, and key congressional Republicans said they are ready to deal.\r\n\r\n?The president is ready to move on this,? Education Secretary Arne Duncan told The Washington Post.\r\n\r\nRep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.), chairman of a subcommittee on elementary and ");
document.write("secon...\n
\nEducation advocates to rally at the Capitol as budget cuts loom
\n(Austin American-Statesman © 03/11/2011) (Registration Required)\n
Published: 7:59 p.m. Thursday, March 10, 2011\n\n\n\nThe teachers are coming. And the parents. And the librarians.\n\nThousands of education advoca");
document.write("tes are expected to descend on the Capitol on Saturday to protest a multibillion-dollar budget hit to public schools under consideration by the Legislature.\n\nReaction to the budget proposals released in early January has come in fits ...\n
\nIt's everybody's fault, except for Rick Perry's
\n(Austin American-Statesman © 03/11/2011) (Registration Required)\n
One way Gov. Rick Perry could raise lots of money for the state's money-strapped public schools?\n\nHe could set up a dunking booth on the Capitol grounds Saturday with him in it, while thousands of school teachers and concerned parents from across Texas gather at the Capitol to protest Rickonomics.\n\nRickonomics is Perry's state funding program that shifts the blame away from Perry and the state and...\n
\nWhitmire: Ticketing students at school teaches the wrong lesson
\n(Austin American-Statesman © 03/11/2011) (Registration Required)\n
It sounds ridiculous on its face: Young children ticketed at school for disrupting class, marking on a wall with pencil, using a cuss word, scuffling on school grounds, and misbehaving on a school bus.\n\nThese aren't school-issued \"behavior tickets\" that send disruptive students to the principal's office. These are Class C ");
document.write("misdemeanor tickets issued by real police officers assigned to schools. And,...\n
\nSchools prodded on plans for bullies
\n(Unknown © 03/11/2011)
......\n
\nIn letter, Pitts makes his case to the House
\n(Austin American-Statesman © 03/10/2011) (Registration Required)\n
Chairman explains why he wants to move on rainy day fund, Eltife and Carona oppose Bradley nomination and senators work toward making school cuts less severe.\n\n\nHouse is in at 10. Senate is out until Monday.\n\n\nThe House Appropriations Committee was supposed to start talking about legislation to take $4.3 billion out of the rainy day fund at a 7 a.m. meeting today. That meeti");
document.write("ng was canceled on Wedn...\n
\nPerry says state of Texas not to blame for teacher layoffs
\n(Dallas Morning News © 03/10/2011) (Registration Required)\n
AUSTIN ? Gov. Rick Perry rejected the notion Wednesday that proposed cuts to state funding for public schools over the next two years could be responsible for ");
document.write("huge teacher layoffs.\n\nIt would be the task of local school districts figuring out how to make do with less, he said.\n\n?The lieutenant governor, the speaker and their colleagues are not going to hire or fire one teacher, as best as I can tel...\n
\nPerry: Buck doesn't stop with state when it comes to teachers losing jobs
\n(San Antonio Express-New");
document.write("s © 03/10/2011) (Registration Required)\n
AUSTIN ? Gov. Rick Perry said Wednesday the state's not to blame if teachers lose their jobs as school districts grapple with the potential loss of billions of state dollars.\n\nSchool groups took issue with Perry's effort to distance the state from the effects of budget cuts, which by one estimate could cost up to 100,000 school district jobs through the next two years. \n\n?The lieutenant governor, ...\n
\nUrging changes, education head says most schools failing under No Child Left Behind
\n(Unknown © 03/10/2011)
......\n
\nEarly House, Senate school funding plans far apart
\n(Dallas Morning News &cop");
document.write("y; 03/09/2011) (Registration Required)\n
Budget writers in the House and Senate are far apart in their initial deliberations on funding reductions for public schools. While the chairman of a House appropriations subcommittee Tuesday filed a school finance plan that would cut state funding for schools by $4.9 billion per year over the next two years, the Senate subcommittee on public education funding has been studying various plans that ...\n
\nAudit critical of special education at HISD
\n(Houston Chronicle © 03/09/2011) (Registration Required)\n
Black students and high schoolers who aren't native English speakers are too often funneled into special education, while dyslexic students who need the extra help are left to flounder, according to a critical study of the Houston Independent School District's special education department. \n\nAn African-American middle school");
document.write(" student in HISD, for example, is more than four times as likely to be lab...\n
\nConcerns on social services voiced at meeting
\n(Lubbock Avalanche-Journal © 03/09/2011)
AVALANCHE-JOURNAL \r\n\r\nParents, teachers and caregivers are concerned that special needs children will take a double hit if the proposed state budget passes, as both ");
document.write("health care and education ? two state services that affect these children on a daily basis ? are facing major cuts.\r\n\r\n\"Unless you're involved in the special needs world, people don't realize how incredibly vulnerable the population is...\n
\nLISD central office staff reduction amounts to 87 jobs
\n(Lubbock Avalanche-Journal © 03/09/2011)");
document.write("
Lubbock Independent School District administrators have completed notifications of central office personnel whose jobs have been eliminated by the school district to lower its operating costs. \r\n\r\niPad News Update: \r\n\r\nAdd this story to the iPad News Update RSS feed. \r\n\r\nAVALANCHE-JOURNAL \r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nLubbock Independent School District administrators have completed notifications of 87 emplo...\n
\nSpecial Education Department Takes A Big Hit With Budget Cuts
\n(Lubbock KLBK (CBS) 13 © 03/09/2011)
There were 87 full-time, part-time and hourly employees affected by the reduction in force. These employees provide support and services at a district-wide level. Among the positions eliminated are instructional specialists that provide teacher training, coordinators and directors of certain programs, business office specialists, clerks, administrative operations support personnel, special educati...\n
\nRelaxing Ed Requirements: Savings at What Cost?
\n(Texas Observer © 03/09/2011)
In a session with a $27 billion budget shortfall, a looming and often unspoken question tends to linger through hearings and debates: Can cost-cutting mechanisms also make for good policy? At Tuesday's Senate Education Committee meeting, Democratic senators weren't so s");
document.write("hy in saying \"No.\"\n\"What's the evidence [this is] in the best interest of the children?\" asked Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, as two o...\n
\nWhat $9.8 Billion in Texas School Cuts Looks Like
\n(Texas Tribune © 03/09/2011)
When lawmakers file a school finance bill, they publish a spreadsheet showing how the new funding formulas affect eac");
document.write("h of the state's more than 1,000 school districts. This year, with a proposed budget that currently cuts $9.8 billion from public schools, no such spreadsheets have been published.\n\nThat's, in part, why state Rep. Scott Hochberg, D-Houston, has filed a series of school finance bills...\n
\nKeller school officials propose major budget cuts
\n(Unkno");
document.write("wn © 03/09/2011)
......\n
\nTrustees to tackle budget, buyouts
\n(Denton Record-Chronicle © 03/08/2011)
Denton school board members are expected to continue discussion of the \n 2011-12 budget and consider modifications to the district’s early \n resignation incentive program at tonight’s board meeting");
document.write(".\n \n \n\n\n Sharon Cox, district spokeswoman, said school officials and trustees \n will discuss any new information from the state Legislature and how that \n infor...\n
\nKISD poised to reduce staffing levels
\n(Fort Hood Herald © 03/08/2011)
The Killeen Independent School District Board of Trustees will take up the ");
document.write("issue of job eliminations tonight at a regularly scheduled meeting. \n\nThe agenda item, listed as \"necessary reduction in force for professional staff,\" comes on the heels of trustees approving on Feb. 22 the elimination of 48.5 positions classified as central office.\n\nSince that workshop, KISD Superintendent Robert Muller h...\n
\nPerry would rather make schools spen");
document.write("d reserve accounts before spending rainy-day money
\n(Houston Chronicle © 03/08/2011) (Registration Required)\n
Gov. Rick Perry said after visiting with the House Republican Caucus that lawmakers should be sure to \"ask all the right questions\" before spending rainy-day fund money -- including questions about school reserve accounts\n\n\n\"The reserve accounts in different places in Texas, are those appropriate from the standpoint of saying, oh we can't spend those -- whether it's reserve accounts that the Unive...\n
\nTeacher Quits After Relationship Accusations
\n(Houston KPRC (NBC) 2 © 03/08/2011)
RICHMOND, Texas -- A Fort Bend Independent School District teacher and coach has resigned after being accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a student.\n\nDane Hayton taught special education and coached cross country and junior varsity boy's basketball at Travis ");
document.write("High School.\n\nAccording to the school district's website, Hayton was in his fourth year at the school.\n\nSchool district offi...\n
\nEducation majors wonder if they'll find work
\n(Lubbock KJTV (FOX) 34 © 03/08/2011)
With school districts across Texas cutting budgets and personnel, plenty of education majors are wondering if they'll be");
document.write(" able to find work after graduation. \n\nMany who are contemplating a change participated in Texas Tech's academic majors fair Monday. \n\nDespite job market uncertainty borne from state funding uncertainties, representatives of the College of Education advise students on track ...\n
\nNavasota ISD forced to freeze teacher salaries (5)
\n(Navasot");
document.write("a Examiner © 03/08/2011)
Navasota ISD forced to freeze teacher salaries BY ROSEMARY SMITH, Examiner editor The Navasota Examiner | 5 comments While Navasota ISD anticipates state budget cuts for education, the school board reluctantly passed a Teacher Salary Schedule for the 2011-12 school year that includes a freeze on raises. \"It essentially froze the salary schedule as it is today. We want to get that out to teachers ...\n
\nSenators Debate Productivity Center, Class Size
\n(Texas Tribune © 03/08/2011)
During Tuesday's Senate Education committee meeting, senators considered legislation that could dramatically change the way school districts operate — including two bills that target the dreaded \"unfunded mandates.\"\n\n\nState Sen. Florence Shapiro, R-Plano, who chairs the committee, and state Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, its vice chair, laid out a pair of bills —SB 3 and SB 443, respecti...\n
\nNearly 175 Abilene ISD employees take part in early notification
\n(Unknown © 03/08/2011)
......\n
\nPerry");
document.write(" seeks to slow move toward rainy day fund
\n(Unknown © 03/08/2011)
......\n
\nTeachers fear impact of larger classes
\n(Amarillo Globe-News © 03/07/2011)
State lawmakers are examining class-size caps in the wake of an expected budget shortfall of up to $27 billion over the next two years, but teachers");
document.write(" fear that larger classes will affect education.\r\n\r\n\"The more students you put into a room, the more the teacher is spread out,\" said Keith Creager, a teacher and president of the Amarillo Education Association. \"You spend a lot more time on those beha...\n
\nCheat Sheet: Frisco ISD provides first glimpse of budget outlook
\n(Dallas Morning News ");
document.write("© 03/07/2011) (Registration Required)\n
Welcome to the Cheat Sheet, a monthly notebook that previews items and reports on upcoming Frisco ISD school board agendas. \n\n\nThe Meeting: 7:30 p.m. tonight in the FISD Administrative Complex.\n\n\nLeading Off: Administrators will provide the first in-depth look at the budget for next school year. Unlike most districts, Frisco ISD has remained silent about the potentially devastating impact of state...\n
\nMeasure would allow alternative testing
\n(San Antonio Express-News © 03/05/2011) (Registration Required)\n
Calling for reform of testing in schools, state Rep. Mike Villarreal, D-San Antonio, has filed a bill that would allow some middle schools to work with the state in crafting their own academic assessments instead of taking only standardized exams.\n\nVillarreal filed the bill, HB 1307, last month, but made a direct pit");
document.write("ch to students at Nimitz Middle School on Friday during a news conference, telling...\n
\nSearch Texas School Superintendent Salaries
\n(Texas Tribune © 03/05/2011)
On Monday, we released an interactive list of Texas school superintendent salaries for the 2009-10 year, which, at the time, was the must updated data available. It has b");
document.write("een among the most popular features on the site this week, with 70,000 visits and counting.\n\nBut today we discovered that the Texas Education Agency in the last two days updated the data for the current school year. Not much on th...\n
\nCISD ready to cut 59-62 more jobs
\n(Crowley Star © 03/04/2011)
Crowley ISD Superintendent Dan Po");
document.write("well would like to see staff reduced through attrition, but the number of positions that need to be cut because of an estimated $13.5 million loss in revenue will likely require yet another round of layoffs.\nPowell added detail to his plans to overcome the projected shortfall — down from the $13.8 million he mentioned at the Feb. 21 budget convocations &mdash...\n
\nTEA Gives SAISD 'Warning'
\n(San Antonio KSAT (ABC) 12 © 03/04/2011)
SAN ANTONIO -- The San Antonio Independent School District announced on Thursday that the Texas Education Agency has assigned the district an \"Accredited-Warned\" status as a result of being rated Academically Unacceptable for the past two years.\n\nThe district held a news conference to explain the rating and clear up some confusion caused by a newspaper article.\n\n\n\n \n\nWatch Tim Gerber's Report \n...\n
\nTexas Lawmakers Debate How to Curb School Bullying
\n(Texas Tribune © 03/04/2011)
The Tribune thanks our Supporting Sponsors\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n\nAsher’s death has given momentum to anti-bullying bills filed in the Legislature this session — there are currently more than 15. But the prospect of legislation, supported by teacher organizations and advocacy groups like");
document.write(" the Anti-Defamation League, has drawn opponents as diverse as t...\n
\nWhite House agrees to $6.5B more in budget cuts
\n(Unknown © 03/04/2011)
......\n
\nBISD trustees discuss $5M budget cuts, layoffs
\n(Cleburne Times-Review © 03/03/2011) (Registration Required)\n
In a letter released during Monday’s school board meeting, Burleson ISD Superintendent Richard Crummel addressed the reasoning behind calling last fall’s tax ratification election, November’s financial audit and strategies for bridging next year’s estimated $7.4 to $11.2 million budget deficit.\n\n\n\n “After completing my first six months as superin");
document.write("tendent of BISD, I fee...\n
\nConcerns over special needs programs aired
\n(San Antonio Express-News © 03/03/2011) (Registration Required)\n
Tensions ran high at a Feb. 23 meeting at Rahe Bulverde Elementary as Comal Independent School District administrators and school board members fielded questions on the s");
document.write("chool's special needs program. \n\nThis school year saw a large increase in special education students because, officials say, Comal ISD decided to consolidate its special programs resources and students from two other elementary ca...\n
\nTexas Education Agency layoffs begin
\n(Austin American-Statesman © 02/23/2011) (R");
document.write("egistration Required)\n
The Texas Education Agency laid off an unspecified number of its 1,054 employees Tuesday, with Education Commissioner Robert Scott releasing a brief statement acknowledging the beginning of a process that could reduce the agency''s staff by hundreds.\r\n\r\n\"Based on the impending budget reductions, we have taken steps to reduce the size of the agency. We will continue our mission to serve our school...\n
\nCourt won't hear 'No Child' challenge
\n(Boston.com © 02/23/2011)
HARTFORD — The US Supreme Court decided against hearing Connecticut’s challenge to the federal No Child Left Behind law yesterday, ending the state’s six-year lawsuit over how to pay for the stepped-up student testing considered one of the law’s cornerstones.\r\n\r\nConnecticut was the first state to challenge the 2002 law, which includes provisions requiring yearly standardize...\n
\nTime to make education in Texas a priority
\n(Fort Worth Star-Telegram © 02/23/2011) (Registration Required)\n
Tunisia. Egypt. Jordan. Bahrain. Iran. Libya. Morocco. Wisconsin, USA.All are places where people have risen up to demand fairness and justice from their political leaders.Next month, you can add at least one more place t");
document.write("o that list: Texas.While Texans are not talking about overthrowing a government or taking over a statehouse, two major demonstrations are being planned in Austin in support of edu...\n
\nCan Scott Hochberg Cut Costs and Improve School Testing?
\n(Texas Observer © 02/23/2011)
The Speaker's Committee Room is odd territory in our state ");
document.write("Capitol. It's a small room connected to the chamber, mostly used for press conferences. Members of the public can only enter when the House isn't in session, so there can be a bottleneck to get in when press conferences occur immediately after the session (a common time.) Because of the room's size?it only holds three rows of chairs?events...\n
\nBudget Cuts Have So");
document.write("me Calling for STAAR Delay
\n(Texas Tribune © 02/23/2011)
As Texas school districts brace for budget cuts and layoffs in the coming months, many education advocates are particularly concerned about the state's roll out of a new testing system in 2012.\n\nThe State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, or STAAR, will track student, school and school district performance, replacing the current Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills.\n\nWith current sta...\n
\nDon't use cuts alone to fix budget, Standard and Poor's says
\n(Austin American-Statesman © 02/22/2011) (Registration Required)\n
S&P calls for balanced approach, 100 layoffs coming at TEA and Tribune poll shows Dewhurst ahead but most undecided in Senate race.\n\n\n(Happy birthday to Sen. Chris Harris, Rep. Drew Darby and Bob Popinski of Moak, Casey and Associates.)\n\n\nHouse is in at 10 a.m. Senate is in at ");
document.write("11.\n\n\nGreat scoop yesterday afternoon from the Statesman’s Kate Alexander: “Texas’ cuts-only approac...\n
\nBrain scans may someday detect autism
\n(CNN.com © 02/22/2011)
Researchers are hoping that by using a common tool for measuring of brain activity in a new way, they may be one step closer to identifying whethe");
document.write("r? a child is a greater risk for autism.\n\n\n"We haven't diagnosed autism at this point," says William Bosl, Ph.D., lead author and a research scientist at Children's Hospital Boston. But he says by using an electroencephalogram and new...\n
\nOperation Education: Future teachers preparing for troubled job market
\n(Dallas WFAA ");
document.write("(ABC) 8 © 02/22/2011)
It is estimated 100,000 thousand public education jobs could be lost in Texas. That is just the start. Add that to the thousands of students that have spent the past four years in college hoping to become teachers.\n\n\nFinding a classroom is going to be hard and it is only getting harder. Dozens of districts have decided not to travel to recruit new students. For the first time, that decision has fo...\n
\nHow about a temporary sales tax increase dedicated to public schools?
\n(Houston Chronicle © 02/22/2011) (Registration Required)\n
State Rep. Jos? Men?ndez, D-San Antonio, has filed a bill to temporarily increase the state sales tax by 2 cents on the dollar for two years.\n\n\nHe estimates it would raise $6 billion, which would be dedicated to public education under House Bill 1597. The measure is meant to address a bare-bones budget proposal that would give school d");
document.write("istricts nearly $10 billion less over the next two years than t...\n
\nInside Intelligence: Public Education Funding is...
\n(Texas Tribune © 02/21/2011)
Our insiders took on school finance this week, and they're not optimistic that there will be a happy ending.\n\nLawmakers have proposed spending $10.4 billion less than the Texas Educ");
document.write("ation Agency says it needs to keep things running like they're running now. Is that current level of services sufficient for public education? Two-thirds of our panel said no, it's not.\n\nDo they think the Legislature wi...\n
\nOur schools: State looks at merging districts to save money
\n(El Paso Times © 02/20/2011)
Anthony Independe");
document.write("nt School District, with fewer than 900 students and 56 teachers, is the smallest of the nine school districts in El Paso County. \n\nRon Haugen, AISD superintendent, said that for the community, it's not about size, it's about the pride they feel in being an Anthony Wildcat. It's their identity.\n\nThere are about 1,030 school districts in Texas and, like Anthony, about 50 percent of...\n
\nLawmakers May Come to Charter Schools? Aid
\n(New York Times (State Version) © 02/20/2011) (Registration Required)\n
It took seven years for Houston-based Harmony Public Schools, the state’s largest charter network and one of its best academically, to secure a bank bond in 2007 to buy and remodel buildings on its 33 campuses. Since then, it has obtained two additional bonds — the most recent for $90 million issued last year — to continue its expansion. \n\n\n\n\nWhile school officials are ple...");
document.write("\n
\nGOP-Controlled House Passes Spending Cut Bill
\n(Fox News © 02/19/2011)
WASHINGTON -- The Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives passed sweeping legislation early Saturday to cut $61 billion from hundreds of federal programs and shelter coal companies, oil refiners and farmers from new government regulations.\n\nThe 2");
document.write("35-189 vote to send the bill to the Senate was largely along party lines and defied a veto threat from President Obama. It marked the most str...\n
\nFor Autistic Children, a School?s Coffee Shop Imparts Skills While Raising Money
\n(New York Times (State Version) © 02/19/2011) (Registration Required)\n
EDISON");
document.write(", N.J. — The coffee shop at Woodrow Wilson Middle School is serious about service with a smile. When Edward Lin, a seventh grader, stared silently at his feet the other day instead of greeting a customer, his teacher prodded him. \n\r\n\r\r\n\r\n“How can I help you?” the boy mumbled, still staring at his feet. \n\r\n\r\r\n\r\nHis teacher prodded him again. Edward looked up. T...\n
\nHouse bill proposes new standardized test format for Texas students
\n(Austin KEYE (CBS) 42 © 02/18/2011)
The way Texas children learn could be changing. That's if a bill proposed by State Representative Mike Villarreal, D-San Antonio, is passed.\n\nHB 1307 would take the state's testing standards in a new direction. Rather than fill-in-the-bubble tests, alternative exams would be developed and administered to students. \"Instead of focusing teaching on fill-in-the-bubble tests, we want to create a new g...\n
\nHighlights of $1.2 trillion GOP spending bill
\n(Fort Worth Star-Telegram © 02/18/2011) (Registration Required)\n
Republicans controlling the House are advancing a $1.2 trillion omnibus spending bill to wrap up the unfinished 2011 spending bills they inherited from Democrats. The measure cuts $61 billion from the 2010 bills endo");
document.write("rsed by President Barack Obama. Highlights include:---INCREASES-$516 billion for the Pentagon, an $8 billion or 2 percent increase over 2010.-$158 billion in additional military spendi...\n
\nAmid looming education cuts, Shapiro proposes mandate relief
\n(Plano Star Courier © 02/18/2011)
With statewide education cuts that could excee");
document.write("d $9 billion creeping over the horizon, school districts across Texas are looking for new ways to tighten their purses.Two bills submitted during Texas? 82nd Legislature could increase their power to do just that.On Feb. 1, Sen. Florence Shapiro filed Senate Bill 468, a mandate relief bill intended to return local control to districts by removing and a...\n
\nHouse ");
document.write("cuts NEA, education, park funding in Thursday votes
\n(The Hill © 02/18/2011)
The House on Thursday continued to add cuts to a measure already slashing $61 billion from this year's spending.\n\nIn a series of votes Thursday, House lawmakers cuts funds from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), school improvement funds and the U.S. Institute for Peace.?\n\nIn a 217-209 vote, the House cut $20.6 million in NEA funding. The amendment to the FY 2011 spending bill, from Rep. Ti...\n
\nAnalysts' forecast for schools is dire
\n(Amarillo Globe-News © 02/17/2011)
The two largest school districts in the Panhandle will face big financial hurdles if state legislators follow through with proposed budgets, based on an analysis by a school finance expert in Austin.\n\nAmarillo Independent School District would lose an estimated $18 million to $30 million, while Canyon Independent School District would los");
document.write("e $6 million to $9 million, under the House budget bill, acc...\n
\nArea school districts take knife to budgets
\n(Austin American-Statesman © 02/17/2011) (Registration Required)\n
Updated: 10:44 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2011\n\n\nPublished: 10:35 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. ");
document.write("16, 2011\n\n\n\nThe two-story brown brick elementary school is nearly complete. But come August, the as-yet-to-be-named campus might stand empty.\n\nInstead of its halls bustling with hundreds of students, it may be one of two schools in the Leander school district close...\n
\nKan. lawmakers at odds over special ed funding
\n(Boston.com © 02");
document.write("/17/2011)
TOPEKA, Kan.—Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback's budget director said Wednesday that the state may have to spend far more on special education programs to avoid a federal penalty, complicating budget negotiations that began with lawmakers split on whether to pay the public school costs.\n\nThree senators and three House members had their first talks over the final version of a bill designed to trim ov...\n
\nDallas-Fort Worth teachers take their message to Austin
\n(Fort Worth Star-Telegram © 02/17/2011) (Registration Required)\n
FORT WORTH -- Local teachers and school administrators sent an impassioned message to Austin on Wednesday, asking legislators to save jobs and education programs.About 100 educators from across North Texas met with state Rep. Bill Zedler, R-Arlington, and representatives of other area legislators in a meeting sponsored by the local nonprofit Score a Goal in t");
document.write("he Classroom.Statewide, public educatio...\n
\nGLENDA BACON: Make education state's top priority
\n(San Angelo Standard Times © 02/17/2011)
We need to start a Tea Party for our kids, grandkids and great-grandkids. What Gov. Rick Perry has proposed for Texas public schools breaks my heart.\n\nFor Perry to want to keep $150 million in th");
document.write("e Texas Enterprise Fund, $15 million in the Emergency Technology Fund and $20 million for the \"film and video game incentive program\" that tries to lure technology companies to Texas while shortchanging ed...\n
\nSan Antonio school employees fight to protect their jobs
\n(San Antonio WOAI (NBC) © 02/17/2011)
SAN ANTONIO -- More than");
document.write(" 200 South San ISD employees and their supporters packed Kindred Elementary School's cafeteria on Wednesday. The group gathered to speak out against hundreds of jobs which they say some members of the School Board want to eliminate.\n\n"If you take away our jobs, what kind of message are you sending to our students," said one teacher who addressed the Board of ...\n
\nGOP proposes cuts to state grants, shifting of funds for special ed
\n(The Hill © 02/17/2011)
Republicans late Wednesday night proposed to amendments to the spending bill that may receive recorded votes on Thursday.\n\nOne, from Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), would cut $100 million from a program that makes community service block grants to states. Democrats said they would oppose this, and after a voice vote, Flake demanded a recorded vote.\n\nThe second amendment, from Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodger...\n
\nCS schools weigh alternatives
\n(Bryan-College Station Eagle © 02/16/2011)
Fewer custodians and librarians, a heavier workload for teachers and a tax-rate increase of 4 cents are all measures the College Station school district is considering to offset the expected loss of state funding.\n\nSuperintendent Eddie Coulson outlined a two-year budget plan for the school board Tuesday that");
document.write(" would call for $4.7 million in cuts, in addition to the tax increase.\n\n \"I think the news ...\n
\nTEA assigns monitor to SBISD special education program
\n(Harlingen Valley Morning Star © 02/16/2011)
SAN BENITO — The Texas Education Agency has assigned an official to help the San Benito school district correct flaws in its edu");
document.write("cation of some students held at two Cameron County-run youth correctional centers, officials said Tuesday.\nThe state agency found problems or “oversights” in the district’s instruction of special education students in custody at the Darrell Hester ...\n
\nTeen Accused Of Beating Special Education Student
\n(Houston KPRC (NBC) 2 ");
document.write("© 02/16/2011)
SPRING, Texas -- A high school student has been accused of beating a mentally disabled boy who goes to the same school.\n\n\n\nTimothy MacKenzie\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \nTeen Accused Of Attacking Mentally Disabled Student \n\n\nTimothy MacKenzie, 18, has been charged with third-degree felony assault.\n\nKlein Independent School District police said MacKenzie attacked special education student Ben Rodriguez during physi...\n
\nInterim superintendent chosen to head MISD
\n(Marlin Democrat © 02/16/2011)
Dr. Eli Casey, who has served as superintendent of the Marlin\nIndependent School District (MISD) on two seperate occasions, has\ntendered his resignation and was accepted by the Board of Trustees\nfor the district at a recent meeting.\n \n \n\nWhile searching for a permanent superintendent, an intermin has\ncome on board.\n \n\n\nMarsha Ridlehuber, who resides in the Lott area with her husband,\nJohn, has...\n
\nDuncan renews call for statewide school property tax
\n(Austin American-Statesman © 02/15/2011) (Registration Required)\n
State Sen. Robert Duncan, R-Lubbock, on Tuesday breathed some new life into a proposal to enact a statewide school property tax to address Texas’ persistent education funding woes.\n\n\n“We’");
document.write("ve never made a change in the school finance system without a gun to our head,” Duncan said on Tuesday during a public school funding hearing. “Instead of the court putting the gun to...\n
\nTEA: Doggett's fed. funds not an option
\n(Austin KXAN (NBC) 36 © 02/15/2011)
AUSTIN (KXAN) - With all the talk of less money for ed");
document.write("ucation, why is Texas ignoring hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding? For months, Gov. Rick Perry has refused to accept the money, because of some very specific stipulations Central Texas Congressman Lloyd Doggett had written into a provision of the Education Jobs Bill. \n\nOn Monday, Texas Education Agency Commissioner Robert Scott ...\n
\nBudget would i");
document.write("ncrease education spending to more than $77 billion
\n(Washington Post © 02/15/2011) (Registration Required)\n
The president wants a major increase in education funding in the coming year to sustain Pell grants for needy college students and more modest increases to finance his reform agenda for public schools.\n\n\n\n\nHouse Republicans want deep, immediate cuts in both areas of education, setting up a clash early in the new Congress.\n\n\n\n\nAmong domestic programs, education comes out a winner in the president's...\n
\nRural schools, communities suffer in the face of Texas' budget cuts
\n(Austin American-Statesman © 02/14/2011) (Registration Required)\n
Built in 1904, the opera house along the red-brick main street once showcased "The \nMikado" by Gilbert and Sullivan and the oratory of Mark Twain, if local \nlore can be trusted.\n\n\n\n\nThough");
document.write(" the final curtain fell at the opera house more than 80 years ago, the \npeople of Miles — 800 in all — are still avid patrons of the arts.\n\n\n\n\nThey now pack the school auditorium a few block...\n
\nBudget 2012: Department of Education
\n(Washington Post © 02/14/2011) (Registration Required)\n
Presi");
document.write("dent Obama wants a major funding increase in the coming year to sustain Pell grants for needy college students and more modest increases to finance his reform agenda for public schools.\r\n\r\n\r\nHouse Republicans want deep, immediate cuts in both areas of education, setting up a clash early in the new Congress.\r\n\r\n\r\nAmong domestic programs, education comes out a winner in the president's fiscal 2...\n
\nSchool-stimulus benefit may be short-lived
\n(Boston.com © 02/13/2011)
In the two years since Congress made the federal government’s largest one-time investment in public schools, change has rippled through classrooms from coast to coast, as districts have expanded school days, improved teacher training, and tried to tie teacher evaluations to student performance.\r\n\r\nBut the stimulus package’s long-term impact on public education is far from certain and m...\n
\nKansas faces loss of special education funds
\n(Kansas City Star © 02/12/2011)
TOPEKA | Kansas could lose up to $26 million in federal special education funds if a plan to cut spending is adopted by the state Legislature, according to lawmakers critical of the proposal.\n\nEarlier this week, the House passed a series of spending reductions in the current year budget that affected schools");
document.write(", workers’ paychecks and a variety of other state programs. The bill would eliminate...\n
\nGOP leaders offer $26b more in spending cuts
\n(Boston.com © 02/11/2011)
WASHINGTON — Piling cuts on top of cuts, House Republican leaders outlined an additional $26 billion in spending reductions yesterday in hopes of placating c");
document.write("onservatives who rejected an initial draft as too timid.\r\n\r\nRepresentative Harold Rogers, the Kentucky Republican in charge of drafting the legislation, said he had proposed “deep but manageable cuts in nearly every area of governm...\n
\nWill Proposed Education Cuts Lead to Lawsuits?
\n(Texas Observer © 02/11/2011)
In Perry's ");
document.write("State of the State address, he asked lawmakers to create a \"loser pays\" bill, so that those who sue risk losing a whole lot of cash. It was a nod to the tort-reformers and business community, but Perry also may have been thinking of something more close to home. If the proposed budget cuts pass, the State of Texas will almost undoubtedly be seeing some significant lawsuits?perhaps most ...\n
\nSchools threaten lawsuits if funding cut for special programs
\n(Huntsville Item © 02/08/2011)
AUSTIN — \n AUSTIN — Texas school districts could see an increase in lawsuits if special needs children are refused admission to the School for the Blind and Visually Impaired and the School for the Deaf because of cuts in the proposed state budget, superintendents told senators Monday.\n\n\n\n Senators on the finance committee heard from superintendents of both schools, who said they are r...\n
\nMore Autism Schools Proposed in New Jersey
\n(New York Times (State Version) © 01/24/2011) (Registration Required)\n
Gov. Chris Christie has proposed creating additional specialized public schools for educating children with autism in New Jersey, a departure from the current practice in many communities of integrating those children into neighb");
document.write("orhood schools. \n\r\n\r\r\n\r\nThe governor proposed creating “centers for excellence” in every county, suggesting that such schools could save money for distr...\n
\nNorthside could cut special ed, gifted program funds
\n(San Antonio Express-News © 01/24/2011) (Registration Required)\n
To countera");
document.write("ct impending cuts to state education funding, Northside Independent School District staff and board members began on Tuesday to?weigh substantial budget cuts though next year.\n\n\nNorthside staff?s initial target was to trim about 7 percent from the district?s budget. That would equal about $44 million ? about $14 million from this year and another $30 million from next. But, if legislato...\n
\nTexas school finances: Debate begins with proposed bill that cuts funds
\n(El Paso Times © 01/23/2011)
AUSTIN -- Texas' school-finance system -- a labyrinth of formulas stemming mostly from court rulings -- is again in the spotlight.\n\nA House budget bill proposes that the state reduce funding for public education from $50 billion to $43 billion. The bill does not include funding needed to maintain current services, increased enrollment and inflation. That means a cut of about 25 percent to public e...\n
\nSISD Employee Back At Work After Breakdown; Co-Workers Concerned
\n(KFOXTV.com © 01/22/2011)
EL PASO, Texas -- A Socorro Independent School District employee had a breakdown, taking off her clothes and making threats, co-workers say. Now they are wondering why she?s back at work.\n\nSISD transportation employees said they have concerns about their co-worker?s m");
document.write("ental health. They?re surprised that she still has a job with the district, especially when she works around children.\n\n?She got m...\n
\nAustin school district tackles drastic budget cuts, talk of cutting 300 jobs
\n(Austin KLBJ 590 AM © 01/21/2011)
Newsroom\n \n1/21/2011\n ");
document.write(" \n \n\n \n\n \n Facing one of the grimmest budgets in the district's recent history, the Austin school board on Monday will consider a plan that would cut up to 300 secondary school teaching positio...\n
\nLegislators predict blowback from education");
document.write(" cuts
\n(Austin News 8 © 01/21/2011)
Because the bulk of state spending goes to education and health and human services, those areas are expected to take a huge hit in order to make up an expected budget shortfall.\n\nAt least one of those cuts has both sides encouraging constituents to speak up.\n\n\"If this bothers you, make noise,\" Rep. Scott Hochberg (D-Houston) said.\n\nAs the newly elected State Board of Education meets in Austin this...\n
\nTexas house budget proposes sweeping cuts
\n(Austin KEYE (CBS) 42 © 01/20/2011)
The Texas House opened the conversation on state spending Tuesday with a $156.4 billion budget that's $31.1 billion smaller than its predecessor, a drop of 16.6 percent from the current two-year spending plan.\n\nThe cuts are deep, but the proposed budget doesn't call for an increase in taxes or tapping the state's $9.4 billion Rainy Day Fund. The budget was released to legisl");
document.write("ators on Tuesday night ...\n
\nAG tells school disticts to obey scholarship law
\n(Denison KTEN (NBC) 10 © 01/20/2011)
Associated Press - January 19, 2011 6:15 PM ET \n\nOKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - New Attorney General Scott Pruitt is ordering a handful of Tulsa-area school districts to obey a new law directing them to pay for private school ");
document.write("tuition for special education students.\n\nThe Union, Jenks and Broken Arrow districts have declined to obey the Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarship law, claiming it is unconstitutional.\n\nP...\n
\nReception to honor Dr. Peggy Oden
\n(Gilmer Mirror © 01/20/2011)
A reception for Dr. Peggy Oden, who was awarded Director of the Year by the T");
document.write("exas Counsel of Administrators for Special Education, has been scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 25, from 4 to 6 p.m.\n\nIt will be held at the Gilmer Church of Christ Annex Building, located at the corner of Bledsoe and Buffalo Sts....\n
\nState budget cuts may force local school districts to make tough decisions
\n(Houston KHOU (CBS) 11 © 01/20/");
document.write("2011)
HOUSTON – Houston-area school districts could take a serious hit when state budget cuts are finalized.\n\nAnd that’s left parents, teachers and administrators with plenty to worry about.\n\nTeresa Sazedi, a Stafford resident whose autistic son is in a special education program at school, is particularly troubled by the cuts.\n\nThey could put her son’s program in jeopardy.\n\n"It is...\n
\nGOP Spending Cuts Would Affect Millions
\n(Houston KPRC (NBC) 2 © 01/20/2011)
WASHINGTON -- Low-income students may get smaller grants and the newly disabled might have to wait longer for their benefits. And just about every politician is going to get an earful from the local PTA if school aid gets whacked.\n\n Republicans are finding it's one thing to issue a blanket promise to cut spending, an entirely different matter when you actually take the scissors to $1 ...\n
\nBudget draft shocks lawmakers
\n(San Angelo Standard Times © 01/20/2011)
AUSTIN - The vocal reaction to the first draft of the 2012-2013 state budget was mostly dictated by party Wednesday, but not for Odessa House Republican Tryon Lewis.\n\nLewis was one of more than a dozen House members ? and among a handful of Republicans ? who grilled House Appropriations C");
document.write("hairman Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie, on Wednesday.\n\nCompiled with assistance from the Legislative Budget Board, the...\n
\nBudget crisis requires more than cutting 'fat'
\n(San Antonio Express-News © 01/20/2011) (Registration Required)\n
Events of the day Tuesday produced two ironies regarding the acute Texas budg");
document.write("et crisis that made me wonder: What do our state leaders value?\n\nOne had Gov. Rick Perry in his inaugural address declaring this the ?Texas Century,? just as the Legislature's first budget draft showed a proposed 23 percent cut to public education funding.\n\nThe other revealed itself in Houston, where University of Houston...\n
\nDPS's Robert Bobb stops layoffs of bu");
document.write("s attendants for special-education students
\n(Detroit Free Press © 01/14/2011)
Detroit Public Schools emergency financial manager Robert Bobb backed off plans Thursday to lay off special-education bus attendants, one day before the layoffs were supposed to take effect.\n\nIt came after two busloads of parents and residents went to the State Board of Education meeting this week to complain about special-education problems in DPS.\n\n\"This is one fight that we shouldn't have had t...\n
\nDistrict tackles bullying
\n(El Paso Times © 01/14/2011)
Superintendent Harris: \"We really need to do something systemic.\"\n\n\n\nDealing with bullying in the Ruidoso Municipal School District is getting increased attention. \n\n\n\nEducation board members Tuesday were provided with the book Bullying at School. The same book will be given to all certified staff. And book groups will be started on each school campus.\n\n");
document.write("\n\n\"Ruidoso schools definitely do not have ou...\n
\nLege Land: Let the Show Begin
\n(Austin Chronicle © 01/13/2011)
The 82nd Legislature of the state of Texas was gaveled to session on Jan. 11, beginning a 140-day slog during which one of the biggest freshman classes in history must face one of the most challenging budgets on record.");
document.write("\n\n\nOn the House side, as widely predicted for months, the attempt to remove San Antonio Republican Joe Straus as speaker fizzled out. An unofficial, nonbinding vote of the House Rep...\n
\nNew social media rules for teachers in Central Texas
\n(Austin KLBJ 590 AM © 01/13/2011)
Newsroom\n \n1/13/2011\n ");
document.write(" \n \n\n \n\n \n The Austin Independent School District and the Texas Education Agency both have new rules about how teachers interact with students over social media. The guidelines, put into ...\n
\nOkla. districts s");
document.write("till choosing not to obey new law
\n(Wichita Times Record © 01/10/2011)
TULSA, Okla. (AP) ? Five Tulsa-area school districts remain firm in their decisions not to adhere to a new law directing public school districts to pay for private school tuition for special education students.\n\nWhile Owasso and Bixby have reversed positions, Tulsa, Jenks, Broken Arrow, Liberty and Union school districts still refuse to process scholarship applications under the program.\n\n\"Which i...\n
\nEducation to be focal point when Legislature convenes
\n(Fort Hood Herald © 01/09/2011)
By this point it's no secret that Texas' projected budget shortfall — estimated to land somewhere between $15 billion to $25 billion over the next two years — is the overriding issue looming over lawmaker's heads as they descend on Austin this week. \r\n\r\nIn a state that spends roughly 40 percent of its revenue on public e");
document.write("ducation, how that shortfall affects school districts in particula...\n
\nLegislative preview: Challenge for GOP is to cut deficit, no tax hike
\n(Longview News © 01/09/2011)
AUSTIN ? Texas Republicans soon will get a chance to put the\nstate?s money ? or lack thereof ? where their political mouths\nare.\n \n \n\nAfter sweeping the 2010");
document.write(" elections with promises of cutting the\nbudget and holding down taxes, Republican leaders will confront\nwhat may be the nation?s worst state budget shortfall, a massive\nfiscal hole experts say could represent more than a quarter of all\ndisc...\n
\nSchool leaders urge education focus in Austin
\n(Longview News © 01/09/2011)
As the Tex");
document.write("as Legislature prepares to convene Tuesday for its\n82nd session, there?s one thing local and statewide educators are\nasking of them: make education a priority.\n \n \n\nMore than 430 of the state?s more than 1,020 school districts\nhave adopted the Make Education a Priority resolution, which calls\nfor legislators to ?fix the broken system of school finance and to\nproperly fund education.?\n...\n
\nState agency job cuts are ahead
\n(Austin KXAN (NBC) 36 © 01/07/2011)
AUSTIN (KXAN) - Commissioner Robert Scott told Texas Education Agency staff this week that job cuts at the agency will begin in the coming weeks. \n\nTexas is facing a budget deficit that is somewhere between $10 billion and $20 billion in the upcoming session. The two biggest draws on the state's general revenue are education and health and human services, which all but guarantees cuts at various a...\n
\n");
document.write("D.C. improves special education, but 'core problems' linger, evaluation says
\n(Washington Post © 01/06/2011) (Registration Required)\n
The District has made significant strides in serving special education students, but "lingering core problems" keep the city from meeting all the requirements of a 2006 agreement to improve the troubled system, according to ");
document.write("a court-appointed evaluation team.\n\n\n\n\nThe District serves about 11,000 public and public charter school students with special needs. Parents denied special education...\n
\nEd Commish: Hope you had a great holiday. Expect job cuts
\n(San Antonio Express-News © 01/05/2011) (Registration Required)\n
Education C");
document.write("ommissioner Robert Scott welcomed Texas Education Agency employees back to work after the holidays and told them there will be staff reductions. Here?s his email:\n\n\nSchool started in Austin ISD today and it will soon be followed by a legislative session. I hope everyone had a restful and enjoyable holiday season. There is no doubt that this will be a very challenging and, on some days, ...\n
\nDog that helps epileptic boy will get 2-week tryout at school
\n(Washington Post © 01/05/2011) (Registration Required)\n
Fairfax County school officials and the family of an epileptic 12-year-old boy have worked out an agreement that will allow him to attend school with his specially trained service dog on a two-week trial basis.\n\n\n\n\nBeginning Tuesday at Fort Belvoir Elementary School, Andrew Stevens will have Alaya, a 5-year-old German shepherd who Andrew's parents say is trained to detect and respond to sei");
document.write("zures t...\n
\nBastrop ISD wants out of special ed co-op
\n(Smithville Times © 12/16/2010)
Smithville ISD board members learned Monday at their regular meeting that Bastrop ISD has requested to withdraw from the Bastrop Special Education Cooperative, which consists of Smithville ISD, La Grange ISD and Bastrop ISD.\n\n\nThe three distric");
document.write("ts currently share in the cost and student management of special education services, but because BISD is growing in enrollment, the administration is asking...\n
\nAdvocacy Group Pushes for Anti-Bullying Legislation
\n(KTBC (FOX 7) Austin © 12/14/2010)
Austin, TX - At a news conference Monday morning, organizers with Equality Texas r");
document.write("eleased the results of a poll find 80% of those who responded say they support the passage of an anti-bullying bill. \r\n\r\n?Dallas ISD recently adopted a comprehensive anti-bullying policy and now it is time for the state of Texas to do as well,? said Equality Texas executive director Dennis Coleman. \r\n\r\nThe group want...\n
\nShapiro on school funding reforms
\n(Dallas Morning News © 12/13/2010) (Registration Required)\n
I caught up with Florence Shapiro last week and here's what the head of the Texas Senate's education committee had to say about school finance, a subject that I put up a post about last week:\n\n\nDon't misinterpret what school finance means. The Plano Republican said that she wants to focus on greater productivity within school districts. Our conversation didn't involve a new tax system to pay for s...\n
\nSchools considering lawsuit in face of cuts
\n(Houston Chronicle © 12/13/2010) (Registration Required)\n
AUSTIN --Texas school districts are ready to sue the state again over funding but likely will wait to see what the state Legislature does this spring.\r\n\r\n\r\n\"School districts are so disgusted and fed up with this funding situation because it''s the same thing year after year after year.");
document.write(" We''re ready to go,\" said John Folks, past president of the Texas Association of School Administrators. Folks is...\n
\nState rarely rejects requests for larger classes
\n(Austin American-Statesman © 12/10/2010) (Registration Required)\n
Numbers show class-size limit has its own limits, TRS investment team ge");
document.write("ts a bonus and Texas Monthly calls for a death-penalty moratorium.\n\n\n(Happy birthday to Luke Metzger and, on Sunday, to Christine DeLoma Mann.)\n\n\nYesterday in this space, we looked at the growing momentum to ease Texas’ 25-year-old rule that limits class sizes in early elementary school grades to 22 students. The Senate ...\n
\nSpecial Education the focus of A");
document.write("ISD meeting
\n(Austin KVUE (ABC) 24 © 12/10/2010)
AISD leaders and parents are taking action tonight after the district failed to meet federal standards for the second year in a row. Special education scores at five Austin schools were not high enough last year. District officials are now taking a closer look at which students are placed in Special Ed in the first place. They're trying to improve those scores and cut the budget at the same time. ...\n
\nHigh court affirms ruling on special ed
\n(Seattle Times © 12/10/2010) (Registration Required)\n
The Washington state Supreme Court ruled Thursday that the state is not shortchanging schools in the way it pays for special education.\n\n\nIn an 8-1 ruling, the high court affirmed a Court of Appeals ruling on a lawsuit brought by a dozen school districts across the state.\n\n\nThe justices ruled that the Alliance for Adequat");
document.write("e Funding of Special Education failed to prove the laws governing Washington'...\n
\nTexas comptroller releases education report
\n(El Paso Inc © 12/09/2010)
RICHARDSON, Texas (AP) -- A Texas education report released Wednesday that rates school districts by looking at student progress and district spending gives only about 4 percent");
document.write(" of schools the top designation.\nTexas Comptroller Susan Combs was asked to do the report by the 2009 Legislature, which wanted the office to develop a way to determine which schools were getting both academic success and c...\n
\nIs the Golden Age of Education Spending Finally Over?
\n(Time Magazine © 12/09/2010)
As America starts t");
document.write("o grapple with its out-of-control spending habits, we as a nation really should reckon with our education costs. Few federal education programs were targeted by President Obama's deficit-reduction commission, but that's because most school funding comes from the state and local levels. And that's where the big-time money problem is. According to a report issued jointly last week...\n
\nBrain scan 'best thing so far' for detecting autism
\n(MSNBC © 12/03/2010) (Registration Required)\n
Top videos\n Popular videos currently unavailable\n \n \n\n \n\nAdvertisement | ad info\n\n\n \n \n \n\n msnbc.com\n sites & shows:\n\nTODAY\nNightly News\nMeet the Press\nDateline\nCountdown\nMaddow\nHardball\nmsnbc tv\nNewsvine\nEveryBlock\nBreaking News \n \n \n \n© 2010 msnbc.com\n\n About us\n\n Help \n\n Advertise\n\n Jobs\n\n Contact\n\n Alerts\n\n Feeds\n\n Podcas...\n
\nExperts: Education can't dodge big budget cuts
\n(San Antonio Express-News © 12/03/2010) (Registration Required)\n
AUSTIN - Cutting through a projected state budget shortfall of some $20 billion could make for ugly debate in a few months when lawmakers get down to the nitty-gritty of actually slashing funding.\n\nMaking thos");
document.write("e kinds of cuts as state leaders promise to do without raising taxes means public education and health and human services will end up on the chopping block, experts said. Those two areas cons...\n
\nTexas Lawmakers Look to Cut Texas Education Budget
\n(Texas Tribune © 12/03/2010)
Figuring out whether a school district spends money ef");
document.write("ficiently is hard. Variables like student population, ethnicity, income level and even district geography all figure in the answer. Allen Spelce, a spokesman for Texas Comptroller Susan Combs, says lawmakers soon will have a better picture.\n\n\"In 2009 the Legislature directed the comptroller's office to develop a method to compare school distric...\n
\nPasadena ISD b");
document.write("us monitor gets 15 years in sex assault
\n(Houston Chronicle © 12/01/2010) (Registration Required)\n
A severely autistic 13-year-old boy sexually assaulted while strapped to a school bus seat was unable to get away from his attacker, a man hired to protect him on the ride, the child's father said.\nMinutes after Justin Perez admitted his guilt on Tuesday and was sentenced to 15 years in prison, Alan Fowler took the stand in the Harris County courtroom and told the Pasadena ISD bus monitor, \"You ar...\n
\nHigh schools get larger share of federal education assistance
\n(Washington Post © 12/01/2010) (Registration Required)\n
The Education Department announced Tuesday that it has provided an unprecedented amount of aid to turn around struggling high schools, while an independent report found that the nation's high school graduation rate is on the");
document.write(" rise.\n\n\n\n\nThe federal announcement and the report from America's Promise Alliance, a nonprofit organization founded by former secretary of state Colin Powell, reflected a coor...\n
\nSettlement with Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD returns hearing-impaired teacher to classroom at new school
\n(Denton Record-Chronicle © 10/27/2010)
A he");
document.write("aring-impaired teacher who was put on administrative leave for inviting a reporter to her classroom has reached a settlement with the Carrollton-Farmers Branch school district, a spokeswoman said today. \n\n Kathleen Nosek was back in the classroom at her new school, McWhorter Elementary, this morning. District officials had put the special education te...\n
\nOkla. board to consider measure on scholarship law
\n(Denison KTEN (NBC) 10 © 10/21/2010)
Associated Press - October 21, 2010 5:05 AM ET \n\nOKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - The state Board of Education is set for a possible vote about the implementation of a new state law that has been rejected by several school districts.\n\nAn agenda item for the board's meeting Thursday indicates it will meet in executive session before any vote concerning the Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarship law.\n\nThe Legislature...\n
\nThree school districts to lobby for finance overhaul
\n(Fort Worth Star-Telegram © 10/20/2010) (Registration Required)\n
SOUTHLAKE -- Officials of three neighboring Northeast Tarrant County school districts are launching a letter-writing campaign calling on the Texas Legislature to change the way public schools are financed.Several hundred pe");
document.write("ople turned out Tuesday night for a forum sponsored by the Carroll, Grapevine-Colleyville and Keller districts.The forum at Carroll Senior High School was billed as \"The good, t...\n
\nGISD sending message to legislators about financing
\n(Greenville Herald Banner © 10/20/2010)
GREENVILLE — \n The Greenville Independent School D");
document.write("istrict is sending a message to state legislators about the current state of school finance.\n\n\n\n The Greenville ISD Board of Trustees approved a resolution supporting adequate and equitable funding to Texas school districts when it met Tuesday night. The decision was unanimous with no discussion among board members.\n\n\n\n “A lot of distri...\n
\nFormer Special E");
document.write("ducation Director Fights For Job
\n(Weslaco KRGV (ABC) 5 © 10/20/2010)
DONNA - Sylvia Ripley the former Special Education Director in Donna is fighting to get her job back.\n\nShe's already lost two appeals, she hopes to get it to the state level.\n\n"I was always in special ed. I always wanted to be their advocate," she says.\n\nShe was re-assigned in June. She was moved to be an assistant principal at another school.\n\n"They have the right to assign anybody...\n
\nNew Nonprofit Supports Autistic Adults
\n(Ft. Worth KXAS (NBC) 5 © 10/19/2010)
Autism and technology, as in computer games, seem to go together.\n \n \n \n According to the founders of the nonPareil Institute, which provides technical training to students who have been diagnosed with autism, autistic people often possess “superior technical abilities. The");
document.write("y enjoy and excel at video games, the computer, and othe...\n
\nSpecial education atop D.C. to-do list
\n(Washington Times © 10/19/2010)
Michelle A. Rhee may be on her way out as chancellor of D.C. Public Schools, but the fights she waged over the city's education policies are likely to linger long after she is gone.\n\nFor City Counci");
document.write("l Chairman Vincent C. Gray, Ms. Rhee's most prominent critic and the all-but-elected next mayor of the city, the first fight may be over something he and the departing chancellor actually agreed on &mda...\n
\nMore intellectually disabled youths go to college
\n(Corpus Christi Caller-Times © 10/17/2010) (Registration R");
document.write("equired)\n
WARRENSBURG, Mo. (AP) -- Zach Neff is all high-fives as he walks through his college campus in western Missouri. The 27-year-old with Down syndrome hugs most everybody, repeatedly. He tells teachers he loves them. \"I told Zach we are putting him on a hug diet - one to say hello and one to say goodbye,\" said Joyce Downing, who helped start a new program at the University of Central Missouri tha...\n
\nFormer Carroll district principal appeals reprimand
\n(Fort Worth Star-Telegram © 10/16/2010) (Registration Required)\n
SOUTHLAKE -- A former Carroll school district principal is appealing a state reprimand issued after an investigation into preparations for special-education students for the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills.Andra Barton resigned from the helm of Old Union Elementary School after she was accused of violating federal and state laws, including skewing TAKS");
document.write(" tests, changing student class placem...\n
\nSpecial Needs Students: Go for It
\n(Amarillo KCIT (FOX) 14 © 10/14/2010)
According to the U.S. Department of Education, students with learning\n and physical disabilities are far less likely to go to college than \ntheir high school classmates. Is higher education just not for everyone?\n N");
document.write("ew research from Kansas State University reports that challenged and \nless academically promising students should be encouraged to pursue \nhigher education goals.\n\nJordan, 14, has musc...\n
\nUT offers free lecture on the over-representation of kids in special education
\n(Austin American-Statesman © 10/14/2010) (Regis");
document.write("tration Required)\n
According to an announcement by the University of Texas:\n\n\nParents and teachers interested in special education issues are invited to the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement Scholarship in Action lecture on Oct. 21 from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Community Engagement Center in East Austin.\n\n\nDr. Audrey Sorrells, associate professor of special education in the College of Education at The Univers...\n
\nFORT BEND ISD URGES LEGISLATORS TO MAKE EDUCATION A PRIORITY
\n(Cypress Times © 10/14/2010)
FORT BEND ISD -- The Fort Bend ISD Board of\nTrustees adopted a resolution at its October 11 Board Meeting to raise\nawareness of the growing financial crisis public school districts are\nfacing. The resolution adoption encourages state legislators to work\nwith local school board members and other stakeholders with an attitude\nof the highest priority. Lawmakers must make education a priority this\nleg...\n
\nSupreme Court weighs whether parents can sue vaccine makers
\n(Los Angeles Times © 10/13/2010) (Registration Required)\n
The Supreme Court struggled Tuesday to decide whether Congress left parents the option to sue a drug maker for selling a vaccine with potentially dangerous side effects.\n\nVaccines can prot");
document.write("ect millions of children from deadly diseases and serious illness, but they can cause injury or illness to a small fraction of those who are inoculated.\n\nCongress set up a fund in 1986 to compensate parents of ch...\n
\nState touts special-ed initiatives
\n(New Orleans Times Picayune © 10/13/2010) (Registration Require");
document.write("d)\n
New Orleans public schools will institute a centralized\nenrollment system in an effort to better serve special-needs\nstudents, State Superintendent of Education Paul Pastorek\nannounced Tuesday. \n\n\n Pastorek also plans to implement other measures,\nincluding a new special education oversight unit, to address\nproblems inherent in a school system with an unprecedented\nnumber of independently run chart...\n
\nDog visit at Dunn Elementary helps autistic kids
\n(Fort Worth Star-Telegram © 10/12/2010) (Registration Required)\n
After her daughter went to a pet-grooming class this summer, Dunn Elementary special-education teacher Amy Yancey had an idea.Why not see whether she could get therapy dogs to visit her young students, most of whom have been diagnosed with autism?She contacted city community services educator Chris Huff, who told her, \"I know exactly who to talk to for that.\"The result ");
document.write("was a special visit last wee...\n
\nHISD to assume control of ailing Benji's academy
\n(Houston Chronicle © 10/12/2010) (Registration Required)\n
Benji's Special Educational Academy got a second life Monday when officials announced that the Houston school district has agreed to take over the financially troubl");
document.write("ed school.\nTexas Education Commissioner Robert Scott ordered Benji's to close last month amid revelations it was nearly bankrupt, but allies of the Fifth Ward charter school have reached a deal with the Houston Independent School Distr...\n
\nNumber Of Ed Civil Rights Complaints Up
\n(Houston KPRC (NBC) 2 © 10/12/2010)
African Americ");
document.write("an boys who are suspended at double and triple the rates of their white male peers. English language learners who, for years, remain in separate classes, falling behind their peers and scoring poorly on standardized tests. Disabled students and those with illnesses who are shortchanged at school because of their impairments.\n\n The Department of Education's Office of Civi...\n
\nNewborn jaundice may signal increased autism risk
\n(CNN.com © 10/11/2010)
Full-term babies who develop jaundice have a 67 percent higher risk of developing autism, Danish researchers say,? a finding that contradicts a similar study published five years ago.\n\n\nAccording to the? study published Monday in the journal Pediatrics, being born between October and March and not being the mother's first child further increases the risk for autism?for?children who develop?ja...\n
\n10 things you didn't know about sound
\n(CNN.com © 10/10/2010)
Editor's note: TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to "Ideas worth spreading," which it makes available through talks posted on its website. Julian Treasure, the author of "Sound Business," is chairman of UK-based audio branding specialist The Sound Agency and an international speaker on sound's effects o");
document.write("n people, on business and on society. (CNN) -- Most of us have become...\n
\nSiblings of kids with autism have language delays
\n(CNN.com © 10/09/2010)
In families in which a child has autism, his or her siblings are more likely to have language delays or speech problems, a new study finds.\n\n\nThe study, to be published in the Novemb");
document.write("er issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry, suggests that these siblings have mild symptoms of autism, and that the same genes that contribute to one sibling's full-blown autism may be at fault.\n\n\nResearchers ...\n
\nGovernor's veto ax falls heavily on welfare, child care and special education programs
\n(Los Angeles Times © 10/09/2");
document.write("010) (Registration Required)\n
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Friday vetoed nearly $1 billion in spending on welfare, child care, special education and other programs before signing the budget bill that lawmakers had passed about eight hours earlier after a marathon overnight session.\n\n\n\n\n\nThe governor slashed 23 line items from the $87.5-billion general fund budget, including $256 million from a program for school-age children ...\n
\nLeaders debate statewide property tax for schools
\n(Amarillo Globe-News © 10/08/2010)
AUSTIN, Texas — With yet another legal challenge to Texas' school finance system lurking, some key senators say it is time the state finds a lasting fix for the broken system.\n \n Their proposed solution: asking voters to approve a constitutional amendment to authorize a statewide property tax that would replace much of the local school property tax.\n");
document.write(" \n S...\n
\nJustices affirm special education rule in Centennial School District case
\n(St. Paul Pioneer Press © 10/08/2010)
Special education services must be offered to students for extracurricular activities, the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled Thursday, in a case stemming from a complaint by the parents of a fif");
document.write("th-grader in the Centennial School District in Circle Pines. \n\n\nThe court's ruling upheld a decision by the state Department of Education in the matter.\n\n\n\"All children deserve the opportunity to get the most ...\n
\nStatewide property tax seen as possible fix to school finance system
\n(Austin American-Statesman © 10/07/2010) (Registration Required)\n
Their proposed solution: asking voters to approve a constitutional amendment to authorize a statewide property tax that would replace much of the local school property tax.\r\n\r\nSenate Finance Chairman Steve Ogden, R-Bryan, said he knows that just mentioning a possible statewide property tax will stir up emotions.\r\n\r\nBut he would prefer that the state's voters, rather than the courts, have the fina...\n
\nWill session include a school-finance push?
\n(Austin American-Statesman © 10/07/2010) (Registration Required)\n
School finance appears to be back on the table, Austin chief pushes for new drunk-driving charge and working-class whites are favoring Republicans in a big way.\n\n\nQuite an interesting story in this morning’s Statesman from Kate Alexander, who says that key players such as Sens. Steve Ogden and Robert Duncan are talking about proposing a ");
document.write("statewide property tax. Alexander writes, “With y...\n
\nCarrollton-Farmers Branch ISD suspends hearing-impaired teacher after reporter's visit
\n(Dallas Morning News © 10/07/2010) (Registration Required)\n
Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD suspends hearing-impaired teacher after reporter's visit\n\n12:12 AM C");
document.write("DT on Thursday, October 7, 2010\n\nBy AVI SELK / The Dallas Morning News \n aselk@dallasnews.com \n\n \n\n CARROLLTON – The Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD superintendent suspended a hearing-impaired teacher over a visit to her classroom by a Dallas Morning News reporter lookin...\n
\nKey Texas senators favor statewide property tax");
document.write("
\n(Fort Worth Star-Telegram © 10/07/2010) (Registration Required)\n
AUSTIN -- With yet another legal challenge to Texas' school finance system expected soon, some key state senators say it is time for Texas to find a lasting fix for the broken system.Their proposed solution: asking voters to approve a constitutional amendment to authorize a statewide property tax that would replace most of the local school property tax.Senate Finance Chairman Steve Ogden, R-Bryan,...\n
\nDEBORAH MARTINEZ: Special Education students under pressure
\n(McAllen Monitor © 10/07/2010)
Of all the challenges parents and educators face, raising a child with special needs has to be one of the greatest.\n\n\nTherefore, there is no question that of all the decisions lawmakers hand down from Austin and Washington, those that shape Special Education initiatives and affect classroom instruction spark some of t");
document.write("he hottest debate and anxiety.\n\n\nAfter No Child Left Behind passed in 2001 &ndash...\n
\nBudget: Good news on the heels of bad
\n(San Antonio Express-News © 10/07/2010) (Registration Required)\n
In a rare bit of good budget news, state sales tax collections were up 6.8 percent last month compared to September ");
document.write("2009, Comptroller Susan Combs said today.\n\nThe increase is from a low period for Texas' economy, and Combs noted that local sales tax allocations still are down 1.3 percent this calendar year compared to the same period last year. But the state sales tax number was reason enough for ...\n
\nOkla. lawmaker criticizes districts over new law
\n(Deni");
document.write("son KTEN (NBC) 10 © 10/06/2010)
Associated Press - October 5, 2010 4:25 PM ET \n\nOKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - A state lawmaker says two Oklahoma school districts are \"grotesquely irresponsible\" for ignoring a state law that allows special education students to use public funds to attend private schools.\n\nThe Broken Arrow and Jenks school boards voted Monday not to pay parents who request a publicly funded scholarship so their special nee...\n
\n19 accept early leave packages from VISD
\n(Orange Leader © 10/06/2010)
VIDOR — \n Nineteen employees have decided to take advantage of an early retirement and early resignation incentive package offered by Vidor ISD as the district looks to save money.\n\n\n\n In September, the Vidor Independent School District announced it would offer qualifying employees an early retirement and early resignation incentive to leave the district now instead of the end of the 2010-20...\n
<");
document.write("br/>
\nEducation, rail and Rick Perry
\n(Austin American-Statesman © 10/03/2010) (Registration Required)\n
Published: 6:48 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 3, 2010\n\n\n\nIslam in texts\n\nRe: Sept. 25 article \"Board passes resolution on Islam in texts.\"\n\nThis article, like the previous articles in the Statesman on");
document.write(" this subject, claims that our State Board of Education has a problem with the way Islam is portrayed in the world history textbooks. Curiously lacking is what, specifically, the problem ...\n
\nIs another school finance lawsuit ahead for Texas?
\n(Fort Worth Star-Telegram © 10/02/2010) (Registration Required)\n<");
document.write("br>This is getting really old: An election is coming up, another session of the Texas Legislature is just around the corner and Texas public school districts are trying their best to get people to understand just how bad the state's school finance system is.Here's how bad it is: If those districts and their supporters band together again, like they have periodically since 1987, to file another lawsui...\n
\nHearing Delayed for Tyler Teacher Stabbing Suspect
\n(KRIV Fox (Houston) © 10/02/2010)
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) The Texas Supreme Court has ordered a juvenile court to delay a hearing on whether a teenager accused in the 2009 fatal stabbing of his teacher in a Tyler classroom should be tried as an adult.\n\r\n\r\nThe state's highest civil court ruled Friday that a mental health evaluation should be completed before the 17-year-old suspect has a hearing that could move his case to adult court.\n...\n
\nJudge removes Texas schools from court supervision
\n(Austin KVUE (ABC) 24 © 10/01/2010)
DALLAS (AP) — A federal judge has lifted a 39-year-old statewide school desegregation order from all but nine rural Texas public school systems, a largely symbolic move that the state's top education official praised Thursday as a reflection of the state's progress");
document.write(".\n\nU.S. District Judge Michael H. Schneider ruled this week that the rest of Texas' public school districts have been releas...\n
\nSchool districts freed of deseg reporting requirements
\n(Dallas Morning News © 10/01/2010) (Registration Required)\n
Most Texas school districts will no longer have to report in");
document.write("formation on student transfers or have student and staff assignments monitored by the Texas Education Agency for desegregation purposes. Under an order issued this week by a federal judge in Tyler, all but nine rural school districts will be freed of certain restrictions involving student transfers that have been in place since 1971 under...\n
\nJudge considers halt");
document.write("ing charter school's closure
\n(Houston Chronicle © 10/01/2010) (Registration Required)\n
The future of Benji's Special Education Academy remained uncertain Thursday as a federal judge considered halting a state-backed closure of the Fifth Ward charter school.\n\n\nJudge Keith Ellison heard arguments from Benji's lawyer that the judge has the authority to stop the Texas Education Agency from closing the school because officials rushed to shut it down without due process. Ellison hadn't de...\n
\nAlleged hacker: ?I did not break any law?
\n(Cedar Park Citizen © 09/30/2010)
A man who accessed the personal files of Leander Independent School District special education students last year said he is discussing a plea bargain with an assistant United States attorney.\n\n\nMark Short said he is reluctant to accept a deal that would require him to admit to committing a crime, how");
document.write("ever.\n\n\n?My position is no, I did not break any law to begin with,? he said.\n\n\nShort?s attorney, S...\n
\nU.S. Congressmen hit Gov. Perry on proposed education cuts
\n(El Paso Times © 09/29/2010)
Texas? Democratic congressional\ndelegation is hammering Gov. Rick Perry on a proposal by the state?s education\nagency to cut about $262 mil");
document.write("lion in education funding.\n\nPerry and other Texas leaders asked\nstate agencies to identify 10 percent in potential cutbacks that will be\nproposed to lawmakers next session as they deal with a shortfall of up to $21\nbillion\n\n &#...\n
\nPeet teacher arrested for online solicitation of a minor
\n(Conroe Courier &cop");
document.write("y; 09/28/2010)
A second Conroe ISD teacher has been arrested in less than a month for online solicitation of a minor, this time based on a tip from New Mexico.The Harris County Precinct 4 Constable’s Office High Tech Crime Division and the Houston Metro Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force arrested Michael Brian Crawley, 30, of Spring, Friday. The Peet Junior High special education teacher was charg...\n
\nGovernor restores special education funding
\n(San Diego Union Tribune © 09/28/2010)
Gov Arnold Schwarzenegger Monday announced he signed a bill to restore special education funding to school districts, with about $17 million coming to San Diego County schools.\n\n\nThe funding was not forthcoming in last year's budget due to an oversight, according to Assemblyman Marty Block, D-San Diego, who carried the legislation to restore the money.\n\n\n?AB 184 is a life saver for some of our nee...\n
\n");
document.write("Link between vaccines and autism discredited
\n(Chicago Tribune © 09/15/2010) (Registration Required)\n
The power of the Internet has never been more evident than in the controversy over autism and childhood vaccines.\n\nFor years, a theory gaining traction with parents and advocacy groups has been that childhood vaccines ");
document.write("preserved with thiomersal, a mercury-based derivative, were the major cause of autism. Web sites, blogs, chat rooms and high-profile public advocates, including Robert Kennedy Jr., c...\n
\nKids Lose in Battle Over Education Stimulus
\n(KRIV Fox (Houston) © 09/15/2010)
HOUSTON - To get a grip on the stakes, imagine, if you can, $173 ");
document.write("for each and every school kid in the great state of Texas - all 4.8 million of them. \n\nThat's how much federal education cash could be coming to Texas, but isn't. \n\nPart of the reason why not is Governor Rick Perry's running battle with the Obama administration. \n\n\"This is a government that's hell-bent on changing the way that we do ...\n
\nState Orders 30-Year-Old ");
document.write("School Closed
\n(KRIV Fox (Houston) © 09/15/2010)
HOUSTON - Parents are outraged after a state-appointed board of managers voted to shut down their children's charter school. \n\nThe Texas Education Agency says Benji's Academy Charter School in northeast Houston is broke and has just $800 in the bank. \n \nThe state took over the school with an enrollment of about 550 students on Labor Day. \n\nTEA spokeswoman Debbie Radcliffe says the appointed board ...\n
\nState board votes to close special ed school
\n(KTRK 13 News © 09/15/2010)
HOUSTON (KTRK) -- \nThe students and staff of Benji's Academy rallied on Tuesday as they fight to keep the school open. \n\n\nRelated Content\n\nMore: Got a story idea? Let us know! The Texas Education Agency said it determined the school is no longer financially viable and voted to close it on Tuesday. The school's attorney filed for a temporary restraining order t");
document.write("o keep the school open. \n\n \"We...\n
\nTEA cites Lufkin school district for special education paperwork lapses
\n(Lufkin Daily News © 09/15/2010)
The director of special education for the Lufkin Independent\nSchool District addressed the board Tuesday morning regarding a\nrecent visit from the Texas Education Agency.\n \n \n\nDuring the");
document.write(" board?s monthly finance meeting, director Deidra\nHarrison said the agency sent four people to perform the\nresidential facility on-site visit in May. Forty-four student\nfolders were reviewed. In June, the distri...\n
\nNew brain scan can measure a person's level of maturity
\n(Minneapolis Star Tribune © 09/15/2010)
Scientists have de");
document.write("veloped a scan that can measure the maturity of the brain, an advance that someday might be useful for testing whether children are maturing normally and gauging whether teenagers are grown up enough to be treated as adults.\n\nA federally funded study that involved scanning more than 12,000 connections in the brains of 238 volunteers ages 7 to 30 found that the technique appeared ...\n
\nTexas leads nation in SAT participation increase
\n(Rusk Cherokeean Herald © 09/15/2010)
1 \n \n \nTEA News Releases Online \n \nSept. 13, 2010 \n AUSTIN - Texas led the nation with largest increase in the number of public school \nstudents who took the SAT, the College Board reported today. Texas public schools had 123,154 \ngraduating seniors who took the college admissions test, which is a 10,678 student increase over \nthe...\n
\nTexas' U.S. senators try to repeal provision blocking Texas money
\n(Fort Worth Star-Telegram © 09/14/2010) (Registration Required)\n
By Dave Montgomerydmontgomery@star-telegram.com\r\n\r\n \n \n \r\n\r\r\n\r\n\r\n AUSTIN -- The state's two Republican U.S. senators launched a long-shot effort Monday to repeal a Democratic-backed federal provision that they s");
document.write("aid has kept the state from getting $830 million in urgently needed education assistance.The money is part of a $10 billion job package approved by Congress in August. Under a...\n
\nFulfilling special needs: Preschool incorporates therapy
\n(Denton Record-Chronicle © 09/13/2010)
“We love school, don’t we?” Eileen C");
document.write("ampbell asked her daughter, who \n smiled in response.\n \n \n\n\n Natalie Campbell didn’t agree verbally, but her facial expression said \n it all.\n \n \n\n\n The 3-year-old has generalized dystonia, a neuromuscular disease. Her \n muscles and brain work opposite each other, her mother explained.\n \n \n\n\n ...\n
\nMost Texas dis");
document.write("tricts not asking taxpayers for help
\n(Tyler Morning Telegraph © 09/08/2010)
DALLAS (AP) -- Most Texas school districts have not asked voters for tax rate increases in the four years since lawmakers required taxpayer approval beyond a state-mandated cap, despite widespread budget woes. The Dallas Morning News reported Wednesday that the chilling effect on tax increases predicted by some lawmakers when they implemented the requirement in 2006 is illustrated by the newsp...\n
\nNo place like to home to hide dropouts
\n(Austin American-Statesman © 09/07/2010) (Registration Required)\n
When Texas education officials noticed a spike in the number of students leaving middle and high schools, something just didn't add up.\n\nSo they decided to launch an audit to find out whether the 22,260 students were indeed opting for home schooling or whether districts were disguisi");
document.write("ng dropouts by reporting them as withdrawing in favor of a home education.\n\nThe figure, notched in 2008, represents ...\n
\nIn new book, Cedar Hill mom says her intensive therapy program helped son overcome autism
\n(Dallas WFAA (ABC) 8 © 09/07/2010)
The twiggy boy who greets strangers at his Cedar Hill home with a handshake and an i");
document.write("mpish grin bears no resemblance to the toddler who shied away from contact, screamed when he had to walk down the stairs and spent hours staring at the ceiling fan.MELANIE BURFORD/DMNAfter her son Roman, now 7, was diagnosed with autism, Elizabeth Scott designed a treatment plan and worked with him 10 hours a day t...\n
\nTEA takes over Premont ISD\n(Alice Echo News © 09/06/2010)
PREMONT – In a special meeting that was called for the Premont Independent School district on Thursday, the board received communication from the Texas Education Agency regarding elevation of Monitor Status to Conservator Status with the addition of an additional conservator to govern operations of the district. The two conservators will then direct the school board and superintendent until ...\n
\nWhile lawmakers seek to trim $18 billion, officials worry schools may suffer
\n(El Paso Times © 09/06/2010)
AUSTIN -- Texas public school administrators, their budgets already shrinking, worry that they may face more severe cuts when the Legislature tries to trim up to $18 billion in spending.\n\nThe Legislature last year used one-time federal stimulus money to pay for school district operations. Now, school administrators say, they are worried about whether the state will r");
document.write("estore its funding so schools c...\n
\nState moves ahead with bus seat belt plan
\n(Austin KLBJ 590 AM © 09/05/2010)
Newsroom\r\n \r\n9/4/2010\r\n \r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n ");
document.write(" State officials say they're moving forward with a plan to equip new school buses with seat belts. The Texas Education Agency said Friday it's implementing the prog...\n
\nTexas applies for education jobs funding
\n(Austin KLBJ 590 AM © 09/05/2010)
Newsroom\r\n \r\n9/4/2010\r\n ");
document.write(" \r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n Texas has applied for $830 million in federal education dollars intended to help schools through the recession. The Texas Education Agency submitted the applicatio...\n
\nOISD unveils expanded Life S");
document.write("kills facilities at high school, elementary
\n(Orange Leader © 09/05/2010)
ORANGEFIELD — \n The Orangefield Independent School District has unveiled its two newest facilities with the start of the school year.\n\n\n\n After months of constructions, the new Life Skills facilities at Orangefield High School and the expanded Life Skills facilities at Orangefield Elementary are up and running. These improvements will not only better accommodate the district’s growing ...\n
\nState looks at number of home-schoolers
\n(Abilene Reporter-News © 09/03/2010) (Registration Required)\n
The Texas Education Agency has begun an investigation into the large number of high school students who have withdrawn from public school to begin home schooling in the past couple of years.\n\nMore than 22,620 Texas secondary students were listed as withdrawing to home-school in 2008. That ");
document.write("number represents a 24 percent increase from the year before. TEA officials have expressed concern that some p...\n
\nPerry should break the stalemate that is holding up money for public schools
\n(Austin American-Statesman © 09/01/2010) (Registration Required)\n
We urge Gov. Rick Perry and state leaders to br");
document.write("eak the political stalemate that is holding up $830 million in extra funds slated for Texas schools.\n\nOur public schools need the money; many are balancing budgets this year by using money from their rainy day funds. Austin is transferring about $6 million from its fund balance to make improvements without raising taxes, and teacher pay increases are ...\n
\nSchool ");
document.write("seat belt money cut from TEA budget
\n(Austin American-Statesman © 09/01/2010) (Registration Required)\n
The Texas Education Agency said state budget cuts mean less money will be available to equip new school buses with seat belts, as required by a law Gov. Rick Perry and lawmakers called a safeguard for children when they approved it.\n\nThe state allocated $10 million to the program in the budget approved last year, but the education agency plans to use only $3.6 million because of budget cuts. The m...\n
\nTexas Education Agency's list of cuts includes English, science textbooks
\n(Fort Worth Star-Telegram © 09/01/2010) (Registration Required)\n
By Dave Montgomerydmontgomery@star-telegram.com\n\n \n \n \n\n\n\n\n AUSTIN -- Thousands of new textbooks and a steroid-testing program for high school athletes would be among the casualties if ");
document.write("the Texas Education Agency is forced to cut its budget by 10 percent over the next two years, according to its newly released budget plan.State agencies, courts and universities, acting on orders from ...\n
\nTeacher's Aide Claims School Taught How To Abuse Kids
\n(Houston KPRC (NBC) 2 © 09/01/2010)
HOUSTON -- A Houston area school d");
document.write("istrict is refuting claims by a former teacher's aide that staff was taught how to abuse disabled students, Local 2 Investigates reported Tuesday.\n\n\"I'm very angry and I'm hurt. I can't believe that this, of all things, has happened to the children that are as disadvantaged as these little kids are,\" said Wanda Cowand, who last year served as a teacher's aide at F...\n
\nMethod to Grade Teachers Provokes Battles
\n(New York Times (State Version) © 09/01/2010) (Registration Required)\n
How good is one teacher compared with another? \n\n\n\n\nA growing number of school districts have adopted a system called value-added modeling to answer that question, provoking battles from Washington to Los Angeles — with some saying it is an effective method for increasing teacher accountability, and others arguing that it can give an inaccurate picture of teachers’ work. \n\n\n\n\nThe sys...\n
\neducation Special ed bill may affect district?s savings
\n(San Diego Union Tribune © 09/01/2010)
SAN DIEGO — The San Diego city school district will likely have to use more than half its savings to educate students with special needs if the governor fails to sign a special education funding bill into law by next week. \n\n\nWhile district offic");
document.write("ials expect Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger?s approval as early as Wednesday, San Diego Unified School District board members agreed Tuesday to dip into t...\n
\nStudy: Special ed students more likely to be disciplined
\n(Abilene Reporter-News © 08/31/2010) (Registration Required)\n
A recent study reveals special e");
document.write("ducation students in Texas public schools are nearly twice as likely to face disciplinary measures as students in the general education population, and the Abilene Independent School District is no exception.\n\nAccording to a recent Texas Education Agency report to the state Senate Committee on Education, special education students make up just 10 percent of the enro...\n
\nMcAllen ISD accused of shorting teacher pay raises
\n(Harlingen KGBT (CBS) 4 © 08/31/2010)
McAllen ISD is accused of violating state law by shorting teachers on a pay raise.\n\nThe McAllen American Federation of Teachers made these claims last year, and after reviewing the case, a TEA judge ruled in their favor.\n\n\"It has been a big challenge,\" said McAllen AFT President Ruth Skow.\n\nThe McAllen American Federation of Teachers filed the grievance against McAllen ISD stating that the distric...\n
\n<");
document.write("b>School board to discuss special ed funding
\n(San Diego Union Tribune © 08/31/2010)
As San Diego schools await the governor?s decision on funding for special education, board members are developing a contingency plan for a potential $9 million blow to the system?s budget. \n\n\nSan Diego Unified School District board members are slated to take on that potential shortfall at the end of Tuesday?s ");
document.write("special meeting. According to the meeting agenda, the board will identify and discuss two...\n
\nJudge rules McAllen school district must pay scheduled raises
\n(Brownsville Herald © 08/30/2010)
McALLEN — The McAllen school district violated state law when it failed to give required pay raises to many of its teachers and other ");
document.write("employees last year, a Texas Education Agency judge ruled earlier this week.\n\r\n\r\n \n\r\n\r\nNearly a year after the McAllen teachers union filed its grievance, Administrative Law Judge Christopher Maska recommended on Monday that the financially strapped distr...\n
\nTexas school districts revisiting medication policies face unclear guidelines
\n");
document.write("(Dallas Morning News © 08/30/2010) (Registration Required)\n
Texas school districts revisiting medication policies face unclear guidelines\r\n\r\n12:25 AM CDT on Monday, August 30, 2010\r\n\r\nBy JESSICA MEYERS / The Dallas Morning News \r\n jmeyers@dallasnews.com\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n Don't expect Tylenol from the school nurse anymore. \r\n\r\n School districts have started re-examining their medication policies in the face of shrinking budgets and ...\n
\n$830 million in federal education aid remains in limbo
\n(Austin American-Statesman © 08/28/2010) (Registration Required)\n
A high-level meeting of state and federal officials aimed at finding a way for Texas to access $830 million in emergency education aid failed to produce a clear path forward, according to the Texas Education Agency.\n\n\n“This afternoon’s meeting was cordial, with all par");
document.write("ties trying to get these education funds flowing to Texas classrooms as quickly as possible,” Education Commissio...\n
\nAppeals court rejects vaccine-autism link
\n(Boston.com © 08/28/2010)
WASHINGTON — A federal appeals court yesterday upheld a ruling that vaccines are not to blame for autism.\n\nThe US Court of Appeals f");
document.write("or the Federal Circuit upheld a decision last year by a special vaccine court, which concluded there is little if any evidence to support claims of a vaccine-autism link.\n\nScientists years ago reached that conclusion, but more than 5,500 families sought compensa...\n
\nTexas to apply for $830M in education aid from Washington
\n(Fort Worth Star-T");
document.write("elegram © 08/28/2010) (Registration Required)\n
Staff and news service reports\r\n\r\n \n \n \r\n\r\r\n\r\n\r\n Texas will apply for about $830 million in education aid from Washington even though officials are expecting a legal fight over the money.Tarrant County area districts and public charter schools would receive between $42.6 million and $59.7 million from the federal legislation, according to estimates from state officials. But it's not ...\n
\nDewhurst chides education bill
\n(Abilene Reporter-News © 08/27/2010) (Registration Required)\n
SAN ANGELO ? Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst added his views to the continuing Washington D.C.-vs.-Texas dispute during a brief stop in San Angelo Thursday.\n\nTalking about the controversial federal education funding bill that singled out Texas with special spending restrictions, Dewhurst said some schools in Texas may still be a");
document.write("ble to receive funding from the bill. He and Gov. Rick Perry say the Texas req...\n
\nRendon files whistleblower suit against BISD
\n(Brownsville Herald © 08/27/2010)
Former Special Services administrator Art Rendon has filed a whistleblower lawsuit alleging that the Brownsville Independent School District fired him in retaliation fo");
document.write("r revelations he made about mismanagement and fraud in the district’s special education department.\n\n\nAttorneys for Rendon filed the suit on Monday in U.S. District Court in Brownsville against BISD, trustees Rolando Aguilar, ...\n
\nMom angry that boy with special needs rode bus without air conditioning
\n(Colleyville Courier © 08/26/");
document.write("2010)
A Parker County mother is hot under the collar after discovering that her 5-year-old special-needs child rode for almost two hours on a school bus without air conditioning on Monday as temperatures hit a record-tying 107 degrees.Melanie LaBrake, who lives with her family near the Hood-Parker county line, said her son Hunter arrived home bathed in sweat even after she said an aide who rode with him...\n
\nMom: DISD not meeting needs of disabled son
\n(Dallas WFAA (ABC) 8 © 08/26/2010)
DALLAS — Mason King has endured a lot, but his mom worries her six-year-old might not survive first grade.\r\n\r\n"If someone is not there to watch him — to make sure that trache is in — he could die," D'Anna Holmes said. "It's literally a hole in his neck that he breathes through."\r\n\r\nThat's not all.\r\n\r\nMason already beat liver cancer and has hearing loss, requir...\n
\nTexas teachers can post homework on iTunes
\n(Houston KHOU (CBS) 11 © 08/26/2010)
SAN ANTONIO -- Students have long days at school, and getting homework done isn't always at the top of the short list.\r\n\r\nBut now, the excuse of forgetting what teachers assigned won't get them very far.\r\n\r\nThe Texas Education Agency has launched a channel on iTunes ");
document.write("that allows teachers to upload material from their classes. Students can download the podcasts, videos and other multimedia...\n
\nTransportation woes hit rural areas
\n(Amarillo Globe-News © 08/24/2010)
AUSTIN - The Sundown Independent School District is one of the wealthiest in the state but when it comes to transportation costs an");
document.write("d hiring teachers, it struggles just like any other district.\n\n\n\n\"In our part of the world, it's not unusual to cover 500 square miles,\" Superintendent Mike Motheral said. \"So the cost of transportation is a big issue. \n\n\n\n\"The transportation allotment has not increase...\n
\nSchool Bus Seatbelt Law In Jeopardy
\n(Houston KPRC (NBC) 2 © 08/2");
document.write("3/2010)
HOUSTON -- When thousands of students head back to school, many of them will take the bus.\n\nWhen your child slides into the seat, they might reach for a seat belt. But despite a new law requiring three-point seat belts on all new school buses, you won't find any on buses in the Houston area.\n\nKPRC Local 2 investigative reporter Amy Davis explains why school districts are slow to comply with the la...\n
\nDisabled teen is bused to wrong school for three days
\n(Sacramento Bee © 08/20/2010) (Registration Required)\n
For the first three days of the school year, Dana Spear watched her severely disabled son, John, get on the school bus in the morning and get off in the afternoon.\n\nSo she was shocked when the receptionist at his school in the Twin Rivers Unified School District called Monday and asked: Where's John?\n\nIt turned out that since last Thursday a district bus driver had been ta");
document.write("king the 15-year-old with...\n
\nDoes Kindergarten Have a Payoff?
\n(New York Times (State Version) © 08/03/2010) (Registration Required)\n
To the Editor: \n\n\n\n\nIn “The Case for $320,000 Kindergarten Teachers” (Economic Scene column, front page, July 28), David Leonhardt suggests that a study of ki");
document.write("ndergarten’s impact disproves arguments by Economic Policy Institute researchers that “an education can’t protect workers” in today’s economy. \n\n\n\n\nMr. Leonhardt uses as an example a 27-year-old who...\n
\nAutism study doctor barred for 'serious misconduct'
\n(CNN.com © 05/24/2010)
London, England -- Th");
document.write("e doctor who sparked fears that a childhood vaccine was linked to autism has been barred from practicing medicine after his study was discredited, Britain's General Medical Council announced Monday. Dr. Andrew Wakefield "repeatedly breached fundamental principles of research medicine," a council disciplinary panel found, adding that "his actions in this area alo...\n
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