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Volume 2, Number 20, October 20, 2006 |
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| Editor's Note | |
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This week, Anna Hancock, director of QED's School Funding service, joins us to share information she has gathered on education-related ballot initiatives that will be decided this Election Day. Some interesting moves afoot. AW Until votes are counted and a new Congress convenes next January, don't expect much action on the President's '07 education budget. But it's a good time to recap key wins for education in state legislatures last session, and look at upcoming ballot issues. First, state legislation: In Wyoming, schools scored a mighty win. With its surplus of more than $2 billion dollars, the Legislature approved $2.1 billion in new funds for public schools – a 24% increase. In Texas, the legislature approved $1 billion over the next three years for high school reform and passed a requirement that students take four years of math and science to graduate. A number of states - Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, and New Mexico - passed bills to provide substantial funds for school construction. The Illinois Legislature allocated $135 million for the nation's first statewide preschool program. New Mexico and Tennessee also hiked funding for preschool programs, and in Arizona and Delaware there's more money for all-day Kindergarten. For more details on state legislation this year, visit Stateline.org and link to http://www.stateline.org/live/details/story?contentId=141417 Flash forward to November 7. In California, schools are poised for a colossal win if voters give the nod to Proposition 1D, which would authorize $10.4 billion in bonds for education. Of that sum, $3.1 billion would go to higher education, largely for new construction and renovation. The rest, $7.3 billion, would support K-12 education, most of which ($6.2 billion) would help to renovate and modernize public schools, build new ones, and replace portable classrooms. The remainder would go to Charter schools for new construction and modernization ($500 million); support career and technical education ($500 million); provide grants for water, energy and recycling projects ($100 million); and for new construction and redesign of joint-use facilities, such as gymnasiums and libraries ($29 million). Proposition 88, another major California initiative, would create a new K-12 funding stream through a statewide $50 tax on land parcels (excluding those of owner-residents). If passed, the fund would allocate a tidy $470 million in its first year for class-size reduction ($175 million), instructional materials ($100 million), school safety ($100 million), facility grants ($85 million), data systems ($10 million), and an estimated $410 million annually thereafter. Elsewhere . . . in Alabama, passage of a constitutional amendment requiring base-level funding of public schools would result in more money for school districts where the current property tax levies fall below a minimum standard. Proposition 203 in Arizona would establish an Early Childhood Development and Health Fund for preschool children and their families. Forty percent of program funds would serve families and children up to five years old with incomes at or below the poverty level. Support for child care, preschool programs, health screenings and other services would come through hefty tax hikes on tobacco products. Two ballot measures in Colorado would require school districts to spend at least 65% of their funds in the classroom – one a constitutional amendment, the other a state statute. The so-called “65-percent solution” is touted by some as a common-sense way to get money directly to classrooms, where it's most needed. Others, including many educators, call it a political ploy that provides no funds and puts critical services at risk, such as food, transportation, health and safety. Legislatures in 12 states have rejected similar “65-percent” proposals. In four states, petition drives have failed to get the measure on the ballot. Idaho voters will decide a ballot initiative to raise additional funds for public schools through a one-percent hike in the state sales tax. The measure requires that funds be used to increase rather than replace current K-12 funding. A Michigan ballot measure would require the Legislature to establish minimum funding levels for K-12 public schools and higher education. If passed, the law would increase funds by an estimated $565 million per year. The measure also would narrow the gap in per-pupil expenditures among school districts. In Nebraska, Proposition 1 would amend the state's constitution to create an early childhood endowment fund, with a $40 million allocation from the state's perpetual schools fund. A constitutional amendment in Nevada would require the state legislature to appropriate funds for education before considering other spending bills. Some say it would ensure that education never again would be held hostage, pending passage of other bills. That happened in 2003, and some schools opened late that year. Others worry if education is considered first, lawmakers could be more conservative when funding it. Wyoming – A Joint Resolution to amend the state's constitution would repeal a current law limiting the amount of property tax revenue redistributed among school districts. The amendment is in response to a Wyoming Supreme Court ruling that school funding must be equalized among Wyoming districts. Look for a QED update of these ballot measures after the November 7 elections, when we'll post the winners and losers! |
Lead of the Week A
LEAD FOR YOU FROM QED's SCHOOL PURCHASING MONITOR WHAT: Audio Visual Equipment |
Contents Feature
Story K-12 Market Headlines
Higher Ed Market Headlines Internet/Telecom International Headlines Financials/Mergers/Corporate Product
Announcements She Snoops for Scoops: The
Personal Side of the EdNET |
Feature Story Annual Metlife Survey Reports Teacher Career Satisfaction at 20-Year High, But Preparation and Support Remain Challenges WASHINGTON, Oct. 12, 2006 -- Despite the fact that teacher career satisfaction is at a 20-year high, lack of preparation and support threaten retention in the profession, according to the MetLife Survey of the American Teacher, 2006: Expectations and Experiences. MetLife has sponsored the American Teacher series since 1984. This year's survey of K-12 teachers, principals, and deans and chairpersons in schools of education, conducted by Harris Interactive(R), examines the state of the profession at key points throughout the lifecycle of a teacher's career, from preparation in college and graduate school, to experiences in the nation's K-12 schools. Key findings include: Find the full story here. |
K-12 Market HeadlinesDiscovery Education Introduces More Than 150 New Video, DVD, and CD-ROM Titles for Grades K-12, Including Animated Series (Discovery Education, October 18, 2006) The Prequel to Algebra: Math'scool; BestQuest Releases Second in Their Line of Math Courseware Delivered via DVD Technology (BestQuest Teaching Systems, October 18, 2006) Enables Users To Access Award-Winning Literacy Support Software from Any Computer – Anytime, Anywhere (Texthelp Systems, Inc., October 18, 2006) Thomson Gale Applies Lexiles to Databases (Thomson Gale, October 18, 2006) WriteToLearn Version 2.0 Debuts (Pearson Knowledge Technologies, October 18, 2006) Achievement Series from Scantron® Selected by Volusia County Public Schools (Scantron Corporation, October 17, 2006) Arizona Schools Chief Tom Horne Announces the First Statewide History Education Initiative in Cooperation with the History Channel (The History Channel, October 17, 2006) Marketing Projects, Inc. To Publish Two Editions of The Big Deal Book for ELL Educators in 2007 (Marketing Projects, Inc., October 17, 2006) Jamestown for Kids To Be Serialized in the Richmond Times-Dispatch (Gallopade International, October 17, 2006) InterWrite™ PRS 4.10 Brings Clickers to Classrooms Around the World (GTCO CalComp, October 16, 2006) What Works Clearinghouse Releases Five New Reports on Dropout Prevention, English Language Learning, Early Childhood Education, and Character Education (What Works Clearinghouse, October 13, 2006) Groundbreaking Study Confirms BELL Summer Program Featuring Houghton Mifflin Curriculum Increases Children's Reading Skills (Houghton Mifflin Company, October 12, 2006) Long-Awaited LEGO(R) MINDSTORMS(R) Education NXT Now Available! (LEGO Education, October 12, 2006) Newly Integrated Oracle Academy Program Benefits Students and Academic Institutions Worldwide (Oracle Corporation. October 12, 2006) North Dakota School Benefits From Virco Classroom Makeover (Virco Inc., October 12, 2006) Pitsco Aces Tiger Woods Learning Center; Education Company Provides 80 Percent of All Curriculum in New Facility (Pitsco, October 12, 2006) World Book Introduces New Science and Biography Sources (World Book, Inc., October 11, 2006) |
Higher Ed Headlines SAGE and Pine Forge Press Publish High-Quality Textbooks at Prices Students Can Actually Afford!(SAGE Publications, October 13, 2006) West Liberty State Sees Enrollment Gain Following Debut of GoalQuest eCRUIT™ and EYOp™ (GoalQuest Inc., October 12, 2006) Portal Integration Makes for Easy Access to On-Line, On-Demand Tutoring for CampusCruiser(R) and SMARTHINKING(R) Institutions (Timecruiser Computing Corporation, October 10, 2006) Blackboard and SAP Announce Global Agreement To Accelerate Innovation for Higher Education Institutions (Blackboard Inc., October 9, 2006) |
Internet/Telecom ADI Spearheads Online Music Education by Selling Ejamming Licenses at Discount To Music Educators & Students ieJamming is the first and only software application and online service that enables musicians to find, network and play music online with one another in real time, facilitating music education, collaboration and social networking over the Internet. Under the terms of the agreement, ADI's top 2,500 resellers will sell eJamming annual subscriptions to members of the academic community… Dates that Matter, Free Daily History-in-Context Teaching Resource, Launches on TeachersFirst.com (NITV, Inc., October 17, 2006) Netchemia's Hiring Software, SchoolRecruiter™, Adds Value for Georgia Schools (Netchemia, LLC, October 16, 2006) Survey: Parents Look to Schools for Student Tutoring (Apangea Learning, October 16, 2006) Teachers Turning to the Web To Help Meet National Testing Requirements and Time Pressure Challenges, Survey Shows (TeachAde, October 16, 2006) Students and Teachers Chat Live with a NASA Flight Systems Engineer (Space Explorers, Inc., October 12, 2006) |
International Headlines (InfoSource, Inc., October 12, 2006) Kaplan Enters Strategic Partnership With Beijing New Channel Education (Kaplan, Inc., October 12, 2006) |
Financials/Mergers/Corporate Renaissance Learning, Inc. Announces Third Quarter, 2006 Results(Renaissance Learning, Inc., October 18, 2006) Learning Resources, Inc. Completes Educational Insights Acquisition (Learning Resources, Inc., October 17, 2006) Berkery, Noyes & Co. Represents The Teaching Company in Its Sale to Brentwood Associates (Berkery, Noyes & Co., LLC, October 2, 2006) |
Product Announcements (ISTE, October 12, 2006) State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA) Honors Three Outstanding Educational Leaders (State Educational Technology Directors Association, October 10, 2006)Senator Tom Harkin (IA) received SETDA's Federal Policy Maker Award for his efforts to provide resources to ensure each child has a Highly Qualified Teacher and the tools and resources to ensure achievement. Dr. Jorea Marple, Associate State Superintendent of Schools for the WV Department of Education received SETDA's State Policy Maker Award for her relentless pursuit of West Virginia's commitment to use technology as an agent of systemic change within their education system. Dr. Melinda Maddox, Director of Technology Initiatives for the Alabama Department of Education, received SETDA's Leader of the Year Award from her peers representing all fifty states, DC, and American Samoa. |
| She Snoops for Scoops: The Personal Side of the EdNET | |
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End of another week, friends, and here are your scoops… Let me start by correcting an omission I made in last week's column. I shared news that Pearson Education has announced the formation of the Hispanic Leadership Council on Education. In naming the 17 inaugural members, I unfortunately omitted Dr. Wilfredo Laboy, Superintendent, Lawrence (MA) Public Schools. Please join me in sending congratulations to Dr. Laboy and all of the distinguished educational leaders for their participation on this council! Bob Roliardi, President, Pearson Digital Learning, has been named to the Board of Directors of the Professor Garfield Foundation, a non-profit organization created to provide children, parents and teachers an opportunity to enhance and support classroom learning in new and innovative ways. Established in 2004 by Paws Inc., the creative, licensing, marketing and brand management business for “Garfield the Cat,” the Professor Garfield Foundation helps children to safely explore new ways of learning and creatively express themselves through a free interactive learning portal that contains educationally sound games and activities, including a selection of standards-based lessons and material from PDL's KnowledgeBox ® digital learning system. Please join me in congratulating Bob. District Administration has a number of exciting changes going on! Gil Dyrli has been named Editor-in-Chief. His extensive experience and abilities in education publishing and industry consulting, along with his long tenure as an educator in both K12 and higher education, make him the perfect choice to lead District Administration's editorial team. Laura Dianis has been named Executive Editor. She has been with the magazine for ten years and will be working closely with Gil in her well-deserved new role. Gary Stager is now Senior Editor of District Administration and Editor of The Pulse, the magazine's new blog site that is inspiring some of the most significant debate in education. Also joining their team as Marketing and Events Manager is Carolyn Johnson. She previously worked with Virgin Atlantic Airways where she managed many of the company's largest sponsorships and promotions. I know you join me in welcoming Carolyn to the DA team and to congratulating Gil, Laura and Gary on their new roles! And at PTO Today, Janis Daly has joined the team as Director of Sponsorship. In the past couple of years, the magazine has been doing more and partnering with organizations looking to connect with involved parents, and Janis will support those efforts. She's most recently been with Radio Disney in their national partnerships/sponsorships arena. Please join me in sending warm congratulations to her on her new position. And the talented Tim Loomer has been promoted to President and CEO at Scantron Corporation. That is terrific news! Send Tim congratulations on his promotion. Michael Lund has joined GenevaLogic as Vice President, North American Sales. He joined the growing company in September 2006 and was previously employed for 21 years at Activant Solutions, a leading technology provider serving small- and medium-sized retail and wholesale distribution businesses. At GenevaLogic, he will use his experience to drive key customer sales and service initiatives for North America. Join me in congratulating Michael on his new role. I had a recent note from our friend Linda Roberts . She is on the move as usual. She and her husband had returned from three weeks in Turkey and one day later headed to New York City for the annual meeting of the Sesame Workshop Board of Trustees. The annual dinner is held on the set of Sesame Street . Linda said Elmo was this year's MC - how fun! Linda was elected as Chair of the Education Committee. She was heading off to Minneapolis to participate in The Design for Learning Forum, convened by the American Architecture Foundation. As I end my news for this week, I have such sad news to share regarding one of our friends, Cathy Windland . Cathy's husband Dave, who many of you knew, died in a tragic automobile accident in August at the age of 45. He was employed as a consultant in the sales and marketing fields and was active in the Angel Food Ministries Program. He was well connected in our industry, which he loved, and counted many of you as friends. Cathy and their children, Jennifer, Bryan and Andrew have been comforted by family and friends but feel the tremendous void in their lives. For those wishing to do so, memorial donations may be made to the Windland Children Education Fund at Third Federal Bank, 950 Newtown-Yardley Rd, Newtown, PA 18940. Let me know if you would like the family's mailing address in order to drop Cathy a note of sympathy and caring.. Have a nice weekend, everyone - make memories with your family and friends…Vicki, the Snoop
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