Ill. governor announces panel on school funding reforms

Gov. Bruce Rauner is convening a bipartisan panel to propose an overhaul of the way Illinois distributes money to local school districts. The group will be assigned to produce recommendations for an overhaul of the funding formula by February, which should provide time for the General Assembly to take up the issue during its spring session. Read more>>

New Jersey school districts that have yet to test their drinking water for lead will be required to do so within one year under new state regulations going into effect. The testing rules will also require all school districts to test their water used for drinking and cooking at least once every six years. Read more>>

​In an effort to curtail the increasing number of arm injuries to young pitchers, the National Federation of State High School Associations announced a rule change altering the pitching restriction policy for high school baseball from an inning limit to a certain number of pitches. Read more>>

The legal battle over desegregating public schools in Cleveland has dragged on for more than five decades. And it appears that it isn’t going to end anytime soon, with the school district saying that it will appeal a recent federal court order to desegregate its middle schools and high schools. Read more>>

The Michigan governor has asked the Michigan Supreme Court to issue an opinion on whether the recently adopted state budget violates the constitution by providing funding for private schools. The budget would provide up to $2.5 million to be used to reimburse private schools for costs associated with state-mandated requirements. Read more>>

At issue is a local sales tax passed in 1999 as part of a desegregation settlement agreement. St. Louis charter schools have been receiving a portion of those funds, adding up to about $42 million. A federal judge is considering whether charter school parents have legal standing in a lawsuit to recover money generated by the tax. Read more>>

While Missouri currently allows public schools to outsource just about everything, it does not extend that opportunity to parents. Parents should be given the opportunity, through vouchers or tax credit scholarships, to enter into the educational marketplace and contract with the school that is going to best meet their child’s needs. Read more>>

Even though there is no longer a threat that a Springfield budget stalemate will keep Chicago Public Schools closed this fall, a teachers strike still remains as a current threat. Educators decided not to strike at the end of the last school year, but they reserved the option of a classroom walkout this autumn if a deal isn't reached. Read more>>

Local school boards bear the ultimate responsibility for all spending on public education. Charter schools shouldn't operate without input from those paying the bills. Local, elected school boards deserve to retain their ability to evaluate and authorize how students receive education—in charter schools or in their own. Read more>>

Salt Lake City School District is now using PublicSchoolWORKS’ EmployeeSafe Suite to revamp the district’s entire risk management program.

The Arizona State Board of Education has opted to use Scientific Learning’s neuroscience-based reading and literacy interventions to provide language development and literacy interventions to K6 English language learners. Schools participating in the pilot program will implement Build English Fast this fall. Read more>>

Truenorthlogic Observation is an intuitive, online solution for conducting classroom observations, collecting evidence and sharing feedback. With the program, districts can design observation templates that match existing observation instruments, rubrics and ratings scales, and highlight desired teaching practices. Read more>>

School is out, but a busy summer is underway for the Missoula Public School District.​ Sixteen construction projects costing $30 million are currently taking place at the Montana district's schools, including a deconstruction, remodeling and more. Read more>>

Chicago Public Schools has spent millions on new schools and expensive additions, even in places where neighboring schools have plenty of space for extra students. This new construction is disproportionately going to schools that serve the white, middle class, sometimes ignoring opportunities to create more diverse schools, a report found. Read more>>

A lawsuit filed against Albuquerque Public Schools may halt upgrades and construction that the district desperately needs. The suit alleges that the school district and a local community college failed to tell voters what kind of projects the bonded money they were voting for or against would go toward. Read more>>