Stateline Stories

New York Spends Most Per-Student, Utah the Least: Census Report

Where Does Your State Rank In Education Spending?

After Years of Defeats, Immigrants Win Big State Victories in 2013

Arizona’s immigration crackdown is a fresh memory for many, but now many states are passing immigrant-friendly laws. Find out what is driving the change.

Sequester Will Force Universities to Scale Back Scientific Research

The sequester is already limiting the amount of money universities can offer to graduate students.

States Look to Raise Standards for New Teachers

Would paying teachers more improve the quality of teaching candidates? Some states are considering that and tougher admission standards at education programs.

Report: Tie State Funding to College Performance

It’s time to overhaul the way states fund higher education, a new report says.

Supreme Court Will Review Michigan’s Affirmative Action Ban

The nation’s highest court will decide whether a Michigan affirmative action ban passed by voters in 2006 can prevent colleges and universities from using race when they decide which students to admit.

Higher Ed Cuts Mean Major Tuition Hikes

Tuition at public colleges in Arizona and California has spiked more than 70 percent over the past five years, the result of massive cuts to state higher education funding in those states and most others.

Can Better Organization Produce More Graduates?

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

The End of ‘No New Taxes’ in Minnesota

After more than decade of budget deficits balanced without tax increases, Democrats have taken power in Minnesota promising a different path.

State Higher Ed Funding Support Continues Decline

Per-student funding has declined in 48 states over the past five years, with New Hampshire and Florida reducing support the most.

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.

The 5 States Most Vulnerable to Sequestration’s Education Cuts

Automatic federal budget cuts will slash more than $1 billion in K-12 education dollars this year, paring everything from Title I money for low-income students to school improvement initiatives.

Report: State School Funding Unfair

The report, overseen by a broad commission that includes academics, education advocates, state and federal officials and labor leaders, targets five major areas for improvement: school funding, teacher quality, preschool, resources in high-poverty communities and school governance and accountability.

States Struggle To Keep Online Schools Accountable

As concerns grow about performance in the booming online education sector, some states are working to define their oversight role.

Governors Ask Lawmakers to Prevent Future Shootings

The recent mass shootings in Colorado and Connecticut reshaped governors’ legislative agendas this year, and many used their once-a-year legislative addresses to ask lawmakers to take up gun control, mental health treatment and school safety.

Issue To Watch: School Testing

A number of states are pushing to up the stakes on reading tests for younger students and assign letter grades to schools.

College Enrollment Expected to Slip

Maine has struggled to maintain enrollment for years. It could soon have company.

Kansas Cuts to Education Unconstitutional, Court Rules

A three-judge panel on Friday said the state was shortchanging its students about $400 million each year — money it must find to comply with the constitutional mandate.

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.

Election Year Brings Big Changes in State Policy

From battles in the legislatures to battles at the polls, Stateline reporters traveled all over the country in 2012 reporting on news from the states.

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.

As Federal Immigration Overhaul Looms, California Schools Slash Adult English Classes

Requiring immigrants to learn English would likely be a key component of any federal immigration overhaul. But widespread cuts to English programs in California show that even that requirement may not be easy to roll out.

U.S. Senate Committee Probes “School-to-Prison Pipeline”

Education, civil rights and public safety leaders discussed ways to dismantle the “school-to-prison pipeline” on Capitol Hill this week.

Connecticut Governor Looks Back on a Tough Two Years

Connecticut has been hit three times in the last year by natural disasters and now faces a new $415 million budget shortfall. In an interview with Stateline, the governor looks ahead and spells out how he plans to balance the budget.

Florida Hires Outgoing Indiana Ed Chief

When Indiana voters chose last month not to renew the tenure of the state’s top education official, Tony Bennett, it was seen as a blow to the so-called “Education Reform” community nationally.

States Nervous About New Common Core School Standards

Concerns about local control have make implementation of the national education standards controversial in some states.

Call for Reformers and Unions to Get Along

Speaking in Washington, D.C. at the fifth annual Excellence in Action National Summit on Education Reform, John Podesta said that major electoral defeats in Indiana, Idaho and South Dakota showed the folly of painting unions as the enemy.

Unions Make Strong Showing at the Polls

Labor won big contests in Indiana, California and New Hampshire, while results were mixed in Michigan.

Voters Approve More State Debt

Voters in New Jersey and Alabama heed their governors’ call and approve bond issues as a way to boost their states’ economies.

Democrats Win Montana Governor’s Race, Lead in Washington

Democrats have fended off at least one more Republican attempt to take back control of a governor’s office, and likely another.

Bond Measures Put Some Governors’ Clout on Line

Some governors are urging voters to approve bond issues as way to boost their states’ economies.

Idaho Education Changes Under Attack

Last year Idaho passed comprehensive new education laws aimed at altering classroom practices. Now there’s an effort to repeal them at the polls.

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.

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.

U of Kansas Turns to Legacies to Boost Enrollment

As the University of Kansas contends with four straight years of declining enrollment, school leaders and the alumni association hope to attract more “legacy” students, whose parents or grandparents attended the school.

Affirmative Action Gets a Hearing

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

Historically Black Colleges Contemplate a More Diverse Future

This summer, two private HBCUs faced extinction. Public HBCUs are exploring new ways of operating to avoid the same fate.

State Scholarship Changes Could Cost Students

Legislators in Arkansas are considering tying scholarship levels to academic progress.

Sequestration: How a Spending Stalemate Would Affect the States

There is still time for Congress to avoid the “fiscal cliff” that would force billions of dollars in spending cuts and tax increases at the start of next year. But whatever happens, the states run the risk of being big losers.

School Budgets Are on the Ballot in California

Two ballot initiatives would raise taxes in California over the next several years to increase funding for schools.

Funding for New School Year Down in Half of States

Five years after the recession began, state funding for elementary and high school education remains vastly lower than it was in 2008.

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.

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 Grads Miss Mark

Despite improvements across the board, the majority of high school graduates still aren’t college or career ready, according to a report by ACT, which administers the ACT college entrance test.

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.

State Test Results Questioned

Minnesota education officials this week credited tougher standards and a new online testing system as part of the reason 5 percent more students passed the state’s math test this year than last. Brenda Cassellius, the state’s education commissioner, predicted that those tougher standards, adopted in 2007, will lead to

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.

Subprime Practices of Student Loan Lenders Might Not Mean Settlement

Banks paid states $25 billion for subprime mortgage lending, but similar private student lending practices might not yield the same result.

Campus Mergers Bring Big Changes but Questionable Savings

Georgia and New Jersey are hoping to build major public research universities through mergers. Will they work?

California Drops Most For-Profit Colleges From Scholarship Pool

Facing a $15.7 billion budget hole, lawmakers cut the budget for college scholarships by knocking out schools with low graduation rates and high default rates.

Teach for America Alums Take Aim at State Office

Some alumni from the teaching program are making runs for state office. Many are facing opposition from teachers’ unions.

How the Recession Changed School Funding

Shifts in who paid the bill for education hurt poorer districts more, experts say.

Mayors Back Parent-Trigger Laws for “Drop-out Factories”

The nation’s mayors have endorsed an approach that gives parents more say in how to run failing schools, an issue that has divided state legislatures. Led by a posse of mostly Democrat mayors, including Los Angeles’ Antonio Villaraigosa, Sacramento’s Kevin Johnson and Newark’s Cory Booker, the city leaders on Satu

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.

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

Public School Alternatives Gather Steam in States

Louisiana gave advocates of charter schools, vouchers and other publicly funded education alternatives everything they could have asked for, but opposition remained fierce elsewhere.

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.

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.

Schedules Get a Makeover in Schools Across the Country

Tourism and budget cuts have dictated, and in some cases shortened, the school year in some states, but a growing movement thinks students need more time in school.

Districts Eligible for Race Funds

Eleven states and the District of Columbia shared $4 billion in funds for the first two rounds of the competition. The latest round will award individual districts, or groups of schools, for offering plans to personalize education.

Delaware Gov Defends Common Core

A handful of states are reconsidering their pledges to adopt the common national standards in English and math, citing concerns about federal intrusion into the states. Supporters say that’s misguided.

Next Class of Teachers Enters Changing Profession

Indiana is among several states across the country that have changed the way they evaluate, pay and retain teachers. The changes are controversial, but advocates say they will improve student performance and keep better teachers in the profession.

Alabama Immigration Debate Heats Up

While justices of the U.S. Supreme Court deliberate over the fate of Arizona’s anti-immigration law, Alabama lawmakers are deciding whether to tweak a similar they passed last year that is considered even harsher.

Former GOP Govs Show Rift in Party

Ideological rigidity is forcing Republicans to become independents, the former GOP governor of California says, while the former GOP governor of New Mexico wins the nomination to run for president under the Libertarian label.

States Struggling to Slow Tuition Growth

Arizona has led the nation in tuition increases over the past 5 years. Next year, the cost will be frozen. Is tuition growth slowing?

States’ Measure of Community Colleges Varies

Virginia, North Carolina and California track the most indicators of community college graduation data, according to the College Board.

More College Grads Could Mean Billions for U.S.

New York are best poised to meet grad goals, while Nevada, Alaska and Louisiana need the most work.

States Move Slowly Toward Digital Textbooks

Despite enthusiasm for digital textbooks at the national level, states have been slow to get on board. But the movement is gaining strength.

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.

Bullying Prevention Goes Beyond State Laws, Unions Say

Top school union officials use a movie premiere in Washington, D.C., to focus on bullying and the need, they say, for more action and resources on the issue.

Brewer Vetoes Arizona's Voucher-Like Program Expansion

The governor is willing to reconsider the measure, but said passing a state budget must come first.

Idaho Education Chief Tom Luna Talks Reform

Tom Luna, Idaho schools superintendent and president of the Council of Chief State School Officers, sat down with Stateline recently to share his vision on federal and state education policy.

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.

Two States, Two Different Paths on Charter Schools

Legislators in Georgia want to the state to be able to create new charter schools without local approval, while legislators in New Jersey would like to slow down the process by requiring local consent.

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.

Higher Education Funds Begin Slow Recovery

State higher education funds are typically among the last to recover from a recession, but governors in a number of states have called for higher appropriations this year, in part to keep tuition costs from continuing to grow.

Employees at Illinois Public Colleges Could Lose Tuition Perk

EDUCATION BEAT: A bill moving in the Illinois legislature would kill a benefit that gives children of long-serving university employees discounted tuition at in-state universities.

Restored Education Funds Fail to Make Up for Earlier Cutbacks

CRESTVIEW, Florida - Florida Governor Rick Scott urged legislators to put back $1 billion toward K-12 education after making severe budget cuts last year. Educators appreciate the help, but say they will still be struggling in 2013.

Busy Brownback Agenda Running Into Problems in Kansas

TODAY'S TAKE: Legislative leaders from both parties are expressing doubts about Republican Governor Sam Brownback's proposals to cap state spending, overhaul the tax code and revamp school financing.

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.

10 States Win Waivers from No Child Left Behind Law

TODAY'S TAKE: The waivers allow these states to skip some of the law's requirements by implementing their own plans to improve their schools.

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.

Funding for K-12 Education Set to Improve

EDUCATION BEAT: A new survey says many states plan to increase spending on K-12 education this year. Even so, state education spending remains below pre-recession levels.

Obama's Higher Ed Plan Prompts Debate

TODAY'S TAKE: President Obama wants to link federal funding to colleges and universities to their ability to hold down costs for students. Some higher education officials are skeptical.

'Parent Trigger' Bills in Florida Would Change Rules for Failing Schools

EDUCATION BEAT: Supporters of the plan say it would empower parents in failing schools, but opponents say it's being pushed more by charter schools than by parents.

State Special Education Rates Vary Widely

Federal education data show that states differ widely in how many students they designate for special education. Those differences could have a financial impact for some states in the face of possible cuts to federal aid.

Alabama Governor's Education Plan Draws Controversy

The governor of Alabama wants to shore up the state budget by moving money from an education fund to general revenue accounts. Plenty of politicians in both parties wonder whether that's such a good idea.

Duncan Wants to See Race to the Top Results

EDUCATION BEAT: More than 20 states have been awarded federal grants in exchange for making education changes in a variety of areas, but not all states have been living up to the promises they made in their applications.

More Schools Fail to Meet NCLB Requirements

EDUCATION BEAT: With 39 states planning to apply for waivers from some of the requirements of the federal No Child Left Behind law, a report finds that 48 percent of schools across the country likely did not meet the law's requirements in 2011 for yearly progress at student proficiency in math and reading.

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.

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.

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.

Branstad Pulls Back Teacher Proposal in Iowa

EDUCATION BEAT: A much-discussed plan to create four separate tiers for Iowa teachers - apprentice, career, mentor and master - has been placed on hold by the governor only weeks after its introduction.

State Student Loan Programs Look to Fill Financial Aid Gap

As states pull back on aid to higher education and grants to students, a growing number of them are getting into the student loan business.

Indiana Vouchers Spur an Unintended Migration

EDUCATION BEAT: A new law in Indiana gives students vouchers to attend private schools. But some parents have moved their children from private schools to public schools as a result of the law.

Rise in Student Debt More Modest Than Anticipated

EDUCATION BEAT: Despite major tuition increases in states across the country, student debt for the class of 2010 increased only modestly from the previous year, buoyed in part by more grant aid.

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.

State School Board Races Dominate Louisiana Elections

EDUCATION BEAT: A state at the forefront of some controversial changes in education is seeing more than $1 million in campaign donations pour into what are usually quiet elections.

States Rewrite Education Rules, With or Without Race to the Top

Six states were near-miss finalists in the first two rounds of a federal competition that rewards changes in state education policy. Most of them are continuing the school reform process with their own money.

School Accreditation Explained: Does a Seal of Approval Matter?

Kansas City's school system is about to join St. Louis in losing state accreditation. Does it matter? Here's a primer on school accreditation and what's at stake when schools lose it.