Stateline Stories

State Tuition Savings Plans Face Tough Competition From Wall Street

By the end of this year, 42 states are expected to have some form of prepaid college tuition plan. But with the stock market well above 10,000, many Americans are looking at a better return on their money. In Wisconsin, this is forcing adjustments in the college savings plan known as EdVest Wisconsin as Jeff Mayers of the Wisconsin State Journal explains in this special report. To read more, click on

Wisconsin Budget Stalemate Goes On

Three months ago today (Friday), the Wisconsin Legislature should have been putting the finishing touches on a two-year, $41 billion state budget. But top legislators still are at it, and for the second budget cycle in a row the budget is delayed far past the July 1 start of the new fiscal year. There's no budget crisis, because unlike the federal government when lawmakers fail to act, Wisconsin government doesn't shut down. It continues to run at previously set budget levels, as the state discovered in 1997.

Wisconsin Teachers Seek Last-Minute Contracts

EDUCATION BEAT: Wisconsin teachers want to lock in new contracts before anti-union legislation takes effect ... Pennsylvania governor calls for $1.5 billion in education cuts ... Michigan grants emergency financial managers broad powers, and other education news.

In Wisconsin, Assessing a New Labor Law’s Impact

RACINE, Wisconsin - A year after union protests swept Wisconsin's Capitol, labor and management are still grappling with the collective bargaining law that prompted the backlash. Leaders of local governments and schools enjoy having more options to balance their budgets, but state funding cuts often outweigh the benefits.

Deposed West Virginia Schools Chief Fights Back

Jorea Marple wasn’t the only state school superintendent to get dismissed last year, but she’s the only one planning to take her state to court.

Schools Embrace Fingerprint Scanning

Schools across the country are scanning students' fingerprints so that they can pay for meals or check out books at the touch of a finger. But a growing backlash from parents and civil libertarians has led some states to outlaw or limit the technology.

Summary of the West Virginia State of the State Address

West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin III (D) told the Democrat-controlled Legislature Jan.13 that the state's new budget will be "slender," but that West Virginia has weathered the Great Recession better than dozens of other states that suffered deep budget deficits.

School Ruling Roils Race for Washington Governor

School funding is playing an outsized role in the Washington gubernatorial race, but it may be a while before new money comes from Olympia.

Western State Reporters Say Taxes, Education Top 2000 Agenda

Reporters from eight Western states identified tax policy, education funding, health care reforms and apportionment of the states' tobacco settlement funds as the most pressing issues likely to be addressed by their states in the next legislative year. Over 50 journalists from Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming repeatedly mentioned those topics during a recent statehouse reporters' conference in Boise, Idaho.

Summary of the Washington State of the State Address

"Jobs are the way out of this recession," Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire (D) told the Democratic-led Legislature in her state of the state address Jan. 12, laying out a series of proposals she said would create as many as 40,000 new jobs this year.

How Governors Govern Higher Ed

Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell and Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett are the latest governors to play a role in resolving crises at their state universities.

Virginia Legislator Crusades Against Tenure

A world-famous sculptor who teaches at Virginia Commonwealth University is laid off in the midst of state budget cuts because he lacks tenure. Other less accomplished, tenured professors keep their jobs. This motivated Virginia Delegate David Albo to introduce a controversial bill.

Virginia Tackles High School 'Senioritis'

Virginia is using the lure of free college-level courses during high school to end senioritis, an academic situation that allows students to loaf through their final year with easy classes.

Virginia Advances 'Tim Tebow Bill'

TODAY'S TAKE: Virginia is debating a bill that would allow home-schooled students to play on varsity sports teams at public high schools. The measure is nicknamed the "Tim Tebow bill" after the Denver Broncos quarterback.

No Child Left Behind: Not Dead Yet

Most states have received waivers from the federal No Child Left Behind law, but some have found flexibility harder to come by.

Vermont Governor Proposes Statewide School Choice

Any Vermont child would be able to attend any of the states public schools under a proposal Gov. James Douglas (R) made Tuesday in his second state-of-the-state address.

Few Governors Tout Bold Initiatives

In his state of the state address last month, Vermont Gov. James H. Douglas said that the state should track convicted drug dealers the same way it does sexual predators, by publicizing their names and addresses. This proposal is one of only a handful of truly innovative programs proposed by governors in their state of the state addresses this year.

On The Record: Vermont Gov. Howard Dean

Vermont Gov. Howard Dean said last week he is considering rejecting $26 million in federal school aid for his state because there are too many strings attached to the money. In a Stateline.org interview, Dean discusses his reservations about the new Education and Secondary Education Act.

On The Record: Vermont Senate President Peter Shumlin

Vermont Senate President Peter Shumlin is on the run these days, literally. Besides running for lieutenant governor, he is leading a coalition of northeastern lawmakers trying to control prescription drug prices. Despite his busy agenda, Democrat Shumlin found time to talk to Stateline.org about healthcare, education and other issues during a recent visit to Washington, D.C.

Vermont Lawmakers Weigh Crackdown On Campus Hazing

Because of what happened to a would-be University of Vermont hockey player, the Green Mountain state may become the 42d state to make collegiate hazing illegal. But even with such laws, hazing is a widespread problem on U.S. campuses.

Summary of the Vermont State of the State Address

Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas (R) used his final state of the state address to urge lawmakers Jan. 7 to roll back tax increases enacted last year to balance the budget, and he called for sweeping changes to the way Vermonters pay for education.

Vermont's Pension Experiment

Like many states, Vermont faces rising public employee pension costs while trying to close a budget shortfall. A state panel recommended cutting pension benefits, angering employee unions. Legislative leaders and the state treasurer tried something different: inviting the teacher's union for a series of private talks that ended with a novel compromise. So far, everyone's happy.

Utah Considers Opting Out of No Child Left Behind

Some key Republicans are taking aim at President Bush's prized No Child Left Behind education program. Case in point: The heavily Republican state of Utah may walk away from federal education dollars rather than comply with the law.

Online 'Govs' U' Still Finding Its Place

In 1997, Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt and then-Colorado Gov. Roy Romer convinced leaders of 17 other western states to join them in ponying up tax money for their virtual brainchild -- Western Governors University - with predictions that tens of thousands would flock to the education of the future: competency-based university degrees, all online. Tens of millions of dollars and nearly five years later, the early predictions look somewhat overrated: five graduates to date, some 500 students currently enrolled.

Western States Launch Virtual University

Out West, where vast prairie lands and expansive desert highways bring new meaning to the term distance learning, governors have hopped on the bandwidth wagon and created an 18-state virtual university to bring higher education to far-flung populations at a reasonable price.

Priorities 2000: A Utah View

When Utah's legislature convenes later this month, Gov. Mike Leavitt will be pressing for more education reform. Leavitt, a second-term Republican and chairman of the National Governors' Association, has proposed that 95 percent of the state's new money be earmarked for education and has called for more accountability from everyone involved in the state's school system. For more on Leavitt's agenda -- in his own words.

Rebellion Against Federal Education Law Reignites in Utah

A showdown over President Bush's sweeping education reform law is climaxing in the heavily Republican state of Utah this week and could push the federal government to make concessions sought by several states in enforcement of the No Child Left Behind Act.

Herbert Reverses Course, Vetoes Abstinence Education Bill

EDUCATION BEAT: Proposed legislation would have banned sex education teachers from discussing any method of contraception other than abstinence.

State School Funds On Trial, Again

Texas, Colorado, Kansas and others will see action on school finance lawsuits next year, but it could be years before they make a difference in the classroom.

Affirmative Action Gets a Hearing

In 2003, the Supreme Court upheld using racial preference in college admissions. A more conservative court may decide differently.

Performance Pay Comes to Campus

Leaders in the University of Texas System will be paid, in part, on whether they meet several performance goals.

High School Athletes Next for Steroid Tests

(Updated 12:45 p.m. EDT, Monday, June 18)A year after New Jersey became the first state to mandate random steroid testing for high school athletes, Texas and Florida are on the verge of launching their own testing programs, and Illinois may not be far behind.

Texas Likely to Allow Guns on Campus

PUBLIC SAFETY BEAT: There appears to be broad political support in Texas for allowing guns on campus at public colleges and universities … Critics deride Nebraska and South Dakota abortion bills as "legalized murder"… Prison visitations limited due to budget cuts, and more public safety news.

Thousands Protest Possible Texas Education Cuts

TODAY'S TAKE: AUSTIN, Texas - Protesters came out in droves to the Texas Capitol over the weekend to oppose proposed cuts in state school funding that could cost more than 100,000 teachers their jobs. At the same time, tens of thousands packed the streets of Madison, Wisconsin to protest a law stripping state workers of collective bargaining rights.

Texas Law Seeks to Keep College Students on Four-Year Path

Millions of college students are taking extra time and extra courses on the road to graduation. One state is seeking to cut down on that practice - for the sake of the students and the state budget.

In Texas, Proposition 6 Would Tap Trust Fund for More Education Dollars

Facing $4 billion in cuts to their schools over the next two years, Texas voters will decide next week whether to authorize dipping deeper into the state's $25 billion education trust fund to make up some of the difference.

As Enrollments Soar and State Aid Vanishes, Community Colleges Reconsider Their Role

Two-year schools are crucial to training a workforce that can lead an economic recovery. But states are cutting back support just when community colleges are needed most.

In Texas, School Growth Clashes With a Shrinking Budget

AUSTIN, Texas - As Texas schools enroll 500 new students a day, state leaders are lopping billions of dollars from the education budget. The courts may get the final say on an issue that could force Texas to reexamine its entire fiscal system.

Movement to Shrink Class Size Falters Amid Budget Austerity

A decade ago, it was an article of faith around the country that pupils learn better in less crowded classrooms. That idea is proving to be a casualty of the recession.

Will Happier Adjuncts Mean More Graduates?

A proposal presented this week at a national gathering of university professors in Washington suggests that providing career paths for adjunct, or contingent, faculty could ultimately improve graduation rates. The “Contingency Plan,” developed by several professors at Middle Tennessee State University, would create

States Tackle School Safety After Sandy Hook Shootings

At least 20 states are considering bills that would allow some teachers to be armed. Others are focusing on emergency plans and mental health checks.

Rural States Plug Into Classroom Technology

South Dakota and Oklahoma lead the way in providing students with computer and Internet access, according to a new national survey. But the survey is bad news in one regard: It shows that the United States lags far behind other developed nations in using technology to enrich education.

Voucher Groups Seek to Oust Opponents

This year, school choice - or using public money to pay for private school tuition - is a big election issue in states where voucher plans have been defeated by narrow margins in recent years, such as Utah, South Carolina and Texas. Meanwhile, those same states have pro-school choice organizations that are well-funded and increasingly politically savvy.

In School Sports, Who Makes the Call?

A shot at the buzzer of a high school championship game - was it in time or not? - led the South Carolina Legislature to consider a bill to require referees to watch video replays. It was hardly the first example of armchair quarterbacking by lawmakers.

South Carolina Considers Private School Tax Perk

EDUCATION BEAT: Parents would see an average of $205 in tax savings for each student they have in private school, according to a state estimate.

Education's Less-Than-Certain Windfall

There's $10 billion for schools in the state aid bill Congress passed last month. But some school systems have reason to wonder whether they are going to see the money.

States Scrutinize For-Profit Colleges

Rhode Island is considering whether to approve a for-profit osteopathic medical school, as Kentucky leads 22 other states in investigating the for-profit education industry.

Pennsylvania To Test New School Management

Over the objections of a coalition of 40 community groups, a Pennsylvania school reform panel has voted to hire several for-profit education management firms to run Philadelphias failing schools. The panel hopes these firms will help turn the struggling schools into laboratories of student achievement while cutting costs.

Pennsylvania College Redefines Brownfields Reclamation

The reclamation of abandoned, polluted industrial sites has won the endorsement of virtually every governor in the country, including two of that groups most distinguished recent alumni, President George W. Bush and EPA Administrator Christine Todd Whitman. But if the dual goal of brownfield cleanups is economic vitality and environmental protection, then removing contamination is only the first step. And thats just one of several lessons that faculty and students at tiny Allegheny College in the heart of Pennsylvanias Rust Belt are teaching state officials, reputed national leaders in brownfield restoration.

Pennsylvania Acts to Staunch 'Brain Drain'

Pennsylvania faces a "brain drain" problem -- the loss of college-educated workers so critical to the New Economy. So the Keystone State has just launched a $9 million campaign to attract and retain the kind of talent needed for high tech jobs.

Congress Making States Nervous

TODAY'S TAKE: States are anxiously watching Congress wrangle over a series of measures they are counting on to help pay for health care, education and unemployment benefits for millions of their residents. But the federal government's well-documented financial problems - and the growing attention paid to them on the campaign trail - are threatening those measures. Critics say the government can't afford them.

More Republican Governors Push for Education Overhaul

EDUCATION BEAT: Republican governors in Pennsylvania and Iowa are unveiling plans for major education changes, joining a number of their peers in states such as Florida, Idaho and Maine who made similar moves during the most recent legislative sessions.

Coming This Fall: Big Tuition Hikes

More than half the states cut funding for higher education this year, in some cases by more than 20 percent. The result will be double-digit tuition increases for hundreds of thousands of students and their families.

Can Better Organization Produce More Graduates?

Salem, Ore – Governor John Kitzhaber has overhauled education to improve the state’s dismal graduation rate.

Oregon Looks for Education Czar

EDUCATION BEAT: Oregon would join five other states - Florida, Iowa, Nebraska, New York and Pennsylvania - with a leader overseeing every level of education.

Choices Often Limited in ‘School Choice’ Programs

Many top private schools have chosen not to participate in statewide voucher and scholarship tax credit programs in states such as Ohio, Louisiana and Florida.

Ohio Lawmaker Is Part of Kiddie Caucus

Derrick Seaver, 21, is among the youngest state lawmakers in the country. He and other twenty-something lawmakers say youth brings a valuable perspective to the statehouse.

State Programs Win Innovation Awards

A New York anti-drug plan and a program to help rural Ohioans get college educations have won the Oscars of government prizes. The Innovations in American Government Award honors successful new approaches to tackling societys problems.

Ohio Ironic Setting For Ed Bill Signing

President Bush chose Ohio Tuesday to sign a $26 billion federal school aid package so he could reward Republican U.S. Rep. John Boehner and spotlight a school in the factory town of Hamilton that has improved. But it was an ironic setting for the bill-signing ceremony because Ohio remains mired in a battle over state dollars for schools despite 11 years of lawsuits and court rulings.

Ohio Teachers Union Sues Over Charter Schools

Ohio is the latest battleground in the war over charter schools. These mold-breaking institutions are the latest attempt to get the nation's public schools back on track. Thirtynine states have charter schools laws. More than 2,000 have popped up across the country since 1992. Supporters insist they combine the best aspects of public and private education. Several education groups, though, have filed a court suit, charging that Ohio's experiment with 63 charter schools has gone awry. The groups include the Ohio Federation of Teachers, the Ohio AFL-CIO, the Ohio School Boards Association and the Ohio P.T.A.

Black Student Voucher Performance, Bias Experiences Studied

Black students using school vouchers in Dayton, Ohio, and the District of Columbia are getting higher scores on math and reading tests after only six months in private school, according to a Harvard University study. Meanwhile, another study finds that African-American students tend to be disciplined at a higher rate than whites and Asian, and are not given equal opportunities to pursue advanced placement courses.

Ohio School Voucher Program Challenged In Court

Thirty-eight hundred voucher students in Cleveland, Ohio could lose their scholarships less than two weeks before the start of the new school year. The teachers unions and two liberal public policy organizations have asked a federal court for a preliminary injunction against the program, charging that it violates the constitutional doctrine of separation of church and state.

Ohio Politicians Merge State Agencies, New Hampshire Tackles School Funding

Lawmakers in Ohio spent the week grappling with issues ranging from state agency mergers to education vouchers, while New Hampshire legislators confronted a funding crisis after the state's highest court deemed a new method of funding public schools unconstitutional.

A Three-Year College Degree in Ohio?

EDUCATION BEAT: Ohio governor wants colleges to offer three-year degrees ... Idaho ends its legislative session after approving three controversial education bills ... Oregon lawmakers want the governor to double as school superintendent and other education news from state governments.

Are 'Charter Universities' the Future of State-Funded Higher Ed?

With more budget cuts on the horizon, many flagship universities are warming to a new bargain with state government: In exchange for less state funding, they would get more say in running day-to-day operations as well as the ability to impose some tuition increases.

Two States Drop Out of New Dropout Plan

Last summer, all 50 governors pledged to adopt the same formula for tallying high school graduation rates to get a realistic state-by-state picture of how many students are dropping out. But two states already have opted out of the plan, and three more are still deciding whether they'll fall in line.

N.D. Could Solve Ed Funding Feud Out of Court

Like custody battles in divorces, messy state disputes over school funding regularly land in court. North Dakota is trying to break the chain. Its Legislature this session will make or break an experiment to avoid the kind of drawn-out, acrimonious legal fights that have embroiled all but five states.

NCAA Wins Fight Over North Dakota's 'Fighting Sioux'

TODAY'S TAKE: The NCAA rejected a last-minute effort by North Dakota officials to keep the University of North Dakota's controversial 'Fighting Sioux' nickname in place, ending a political and legal battle that has dragged on for five years.

Should State Education Chiefs Be Elected?

Thirteen states choose their top education official in a partisan campaign. Some people think that makes little sense, but it’s very hard to change.

On The Record: Former North Carolina Gov Jim Hunt

Although former North Carolina Governor James B. Hunt (D) spent four terms as Chief Executive of the Tar Heel State and one term as Lieutenant Governor, his passion hasnt been politics, but education. In a Stateline.org interview, he talked about the challenges states face while trying to improve the schools.

Secretary Riley Praises North Carolina Schools On 5-State Tour

Richard Riley, the secretary of education, received a rousing reception Thursday during stops in North Carolina as part of a 5-state swing through Southern states. On his annual back-to-school tour, Riley told North Carolina Gov. Jim Hunt and other officials that he frequently cited that state's strong commitment to public education. Challenging other governors to a contest, Hunt said North Carolina aimed to be first in education by 2010. During his stops, Riley stressed that it was a critical time in Washington for education with decisions ahead on school construction, class size, a national teacher shortage and after-school programs. Riley urged parents to "slow down" their lives and help their children grow.

Texas, North Carolina Seen As Models Of Education Reform

Texas and North Carolina continue to be pace-setter states in the public school standards and accountability movement. This was the consensus opinion at the National Education Summit which was held in New York's Hudson Valley last month, and it is supported by student achievement test results.

Race to the Top: Who's In, Who's Out

TODAY'S TAKE: States have until Tuesday (June 1) to apply for the second round of Race to the Top, the Obama administration's signature effort to improve the nation's schools by handing out $4.35 billion in federal money for education. At least nine states won't be participating after only two states - Delaware and Tennessee - won in the first round of the competition.

In New York, a 'Big First Step' Toward Fiscal Sustainability

Governor Andrew Cuomo not only got New York's legislature to pass its budget on time but also changed spending assumptions in ways that nudge the budget closer to long-term structural balance.

States Racing for Education Money

TODAY'S TAKE: States are facing a Jan. 19 deadline to apply for their share of $4.35 billion in federal education grants. Some - such as Kentucky, Michigan, New York and Tennessee - are cutting it awfully close.

Race to the Top Could Be Expanded

TODAY'S TAKE: As states rush to meet Tuesday's (Jan. 19) initial deadline to apply for their share of $4.35 billion in federal education money - known as Race to the Top funds - President Obama is seeking to expand the program by $1.35 billion.

New Mexico Legislators Look to Curb Charter School Costs

Some lawmakers in New Mexico say publicly funded, privately run schools are taking advantage of the state's rules to get more education funding than public schools.

New Jersey Tops In Education Spending Per Student

New Jersey led states in the amount of money spent per student on elementary and secondary education for 1997, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. In a report entitled The 1997 Census of Governments, Public Education Finances, the Garden State beat out New York, Alaska and Connecticut. States that ranked lowest in public grade and high school spending per student were Idaho, South Dakota, Arizona, Mississippi and Utah.

Congress Weighs Stimulus for Schools

TODAY'S TAKE: Budget constraints are forcing many state lawmakers to consider deep cuts to K-12 education, prompting warnings from the Obama administration that teacher layoffs could exceed 100,000 if Congress doesn't offer help. Federal assistance may come in the form of new taxes on hedge funds and large financial institutions.

N.J. Teachers Rush Into Retirement

TODAY'S TAKE: Chris Christie, the outspoken New Jersey governor who has become synonymous with spending cuts, appears to have instilled fear in state labor unions. New numbers show that teachers, in particular, are retiring in waves, apparently fearful that the Christie administration will go after their pensions and benefits.

Chris Christie Can't Shake Race to the Top Fiasco

TODAY'S TAKE: New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is embroiled in the first major crisis of his tenure, as Democrats investigate the clerical error that cost the state $400 million in federal education funding and led to the firing of the state's education chief. The governor, for his part, is trying to move on.

Christie's School-Cutting Plan Hits Roadblock

TODAY'S TAKE: A New Jersey judge ruled against New Jersey Governor Chris Christie's $1 billion spending cuts for schools, saying the cuts, made last year, would leave the state unable to provide an adequate public education, as required by law. Christie says the state Supreme Court will uphold his actions. .

No Child Left Behind Waivers Require Big Changes Fast

Many states seeking a waiver from the 10-year-old education law will be required to overhaul their education policies over the next few months in order to meet federal application requirements.

Chris Christie's Budget Bruiser

TRENTON, N.J. - New Jersey's new governor wants to erase one of the nation's largest budget deficits almost entirely with spending cuts. The governor's proposal has made him a villain to mayors, teachers, superintendents and other public employees. But Christie, perhaps more than any other governor these days, has captured the imagination of conservatives who admire his eagerness to take on powerful public worker unions.

Chris Christie is a Role Model to New Governors, But Do His Cuts Add Up?

As New Jersey's governor finishes a wild first year, a number of new Republican governors say they want to govern in his mold. But Chris Christie's philosophy of budget cuts without revenue increases has been easier said than done.

Education Funding Control Eludes N.H. Lawmakers

New Hampshire’s state Supreme Court has exercised oversight over education funding and standards through a series of rulings. An amendment that failed Wednesday would have given legislators final say.

New Hampshire School Fight May End State's Tax Taboo

For nearly three decades, pledging to veto broad-based taxes has been a rite of passage for New Hampshire governors. No one spurning the pledge has ever won the state's highest office, and Gov. Jeanne Shaheen was no exception in winning her second term last November. But New Hampshire's status as one of two states without a general income or sales tax - Alaska is the other -- is in jeopardy despite Shaheen's promise because of a court-ordered reexamination of public school financing.

Internet Good Source Of Info on New Hampshire School Crisis

With the New Hampshire state government fast approaching a court-imposed April 1 deadline to find a new way to finance public schools, it's easy for the public to learn about the crisis and find out how proposed fixes will affect them. There's a wealth of information on the Internet. In this report, stateline.org identifies some Web sites focusing on the crisis and tells you what you will find on each of them.

No Deal In Sight On New Hampshire School Funding

Finding a fairer way to pay for schools in New Hampshire as the state Supreme Court insists has evolved into a high stakes poker game, with no one yet holding a winning hand. Income tax backers hold the most aces, but Gov. Jeanne Shaheen believes she has the only card needed to trump them - a promise to veto the tax. Meantime, the court's April 1 deadline for action is fast appoaching. A look at the impasse in this stateline.org special report.

Funding Gap Plagues New Hampshire's New School Financing System

New Hampshire has a new public school financing system that supposedly assures that students who live in poor communities will receive an education comparable to what kids in richer school districts get. But there's still no relief in sight for the headaches of Granite State lawmakers, who've been grappling with this issue since the state supreme court ruled in December, 1997 that an adequately funded education was a fundamental right of every New Hampshire child. In this special report, Norma Love, who covers the legislature for the Associated Press, spells out the remaining problems.

Students get an eyeful

An Ohio lawmaker accidentally flashes nude photos to high school seniors. Public urination could be a separate crime in New Hampshire, and that would be a good thing for violators. And Alabama now bans the selling of sex toys - unless, of course, people say it's for their health. In case you missed those stories this week, "Worth Noting" fills you in.

North Dakota Voters Sidestep Controversies

On an Election Day that featured intraparty legislative races in several states, North Dakota voters shied away from several controversies over the University of North Dakota's “Fighting Sioux” nickname, protections for religious liberty and local property taxes.

WORTH NOTING: Nevada ed official out after making out

A Nevada education official resigns after smooching with his wife at a board meeting. A religious group in West Virginia balks at new driver's license security measures. And a trio of MIT students are in trouble for hacking the Boston subway. In case you missed those stories this week, "Worth Noting" fills you in.

States Eye Possible Changes to No Child Left Behind

State lawmakers will ask Congress to give states more flexibility in meeting the Bush administrations sweeping No Child Left Behind education law, but the White House has made it plain theyll have to wait at least until after the 2004 elections.

States Dubious Of Federal Testing Plan

Nebraskas testing system is better for the Cornhusker State than the testing system mandated by the new federal school aid bill, state Commissioner of Education Douglas Christensen says. If that means bucking Washington, D.C. by failing to comply with new federal requirements to test every child in grades 3-8 annually, then Christensen is willing to do so.

Obama Moves Shake Up Maryland Dream Act Debate

A major shift in U.S. immigration policy from the White House could have repercussions for a ballot measure in Maryland in November that would let undocumented students qualify for in-state tuition.

For-Profit Companies Cashing in on New Education Law

The federal No Child Left Behind Act has opened up public education to for-profit companies, allowing them to compete for billions of dollars to tutor low-income students in schools that miss state testing targets. But some education experts and public school officials are uneasy that federal money targeted for disadvantaged children is flowing outside the public school systems with no guarantees that added costs will pay off academically.

2004 Sessions: Talk, Little Action in Most Legislatures

As many statehouses wind down for the year, Stateline.org takes a look at the major issues dominating the 2004 legislative session. For the first time in four years, states fiscal picture is brightening. Most legislatures opted not to tackle many social issues, such as gay marriage, passing the buck for voters to decide this fall.

Governors to Bush: Fund Mandates

After a tense weekend marked by partisan politics and power plays, the nation's governors came together Monday and crafted a statement on their priorities for Congress and the Bush administration. It complained of what they say is a proliferation of unfunded mandates.

Colorado Considers Vouchers For Higher Education

Texas and Minnesota have flirted with the idea, but Colorado will be the first state to make a serious run at a voucher system for college students. A task force appointed by Gov. Bill Owens (R) will recommend in January that the state take nearly $635 million now distributed to public colleges and universities and give that money directly to students.