Health Care Bill Hits Special Ed; Trump Touts D.C. Vouchers Despite Poor Test Scores
The rest of the country may be talking about health care this week, but you must be a die-hard education fan. NPR Ed has just the weekly news roundup you need.
Category Archives: Education
Richard Corcoran commands the regular 60-day session, but will Rick Scott have his revenge?
The Florida Legislature's regular session ended Friday much as it began two months ago, with lawmakers ignoring Gov. Rick Scott's priorities and House Speaker Richard Corcoran dominating the agenda. Republicans wrapped up work on an $82.4 billion budget that strongly bears Corcoran's imprint, with an expansion of charter schools, more bonuses for teachers and principals and the elimination of most of Enterprise Florida, the state's economic development agency crucial to Scott's job expansion efforts that suddenly teeters on the brink of extinction.
Are Arizona teachers getting a raise or a bonus?
The legislative budget proposal includes a 2 percent pay hike over the next two years for teachers, but it may not be permanent. Are Arizona teachers getting a raise or a bonus? The legislative budget proposal includes a 2 percent pay hike over the next two years for teachers, but it may not be permanent.
School Choice ‘Is What Winning for Young Children’ Looks Like in DC
President Donald Trump signaled his support for education choice at a Wednesday event celebrating the achievements of charter school students and school voucher recipients in the nation's capital. It was an honor to be at this White House event to watch Trump, along with Vice President Mike Pence and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, applaud the students who participate in the District of Columbia's school choice programs.
Report: Elite colleges can enroll more low-income students
The class divide is deeper than you might have thought. Ivy League colleges, for example, have more students from the top 1% of income than the bottom half.
Strong opinions on both sides as AZ expands private school voucher program
TUCSON, AZ - Arizona's legislature has passed a major expansion of the private school voucher program. Governor Doug Ducey signed the new law after it narrowly passed the legislature late Thursday night, April 6. The law allows more students use tax dollars to pay tuition to attend private school.
Things to Know: Texas lawmakers turn on corporate incentives
In this April 5, 2017, photo, University of Texas at Austin President Gregory Fenves, left, and Maurie McInnis, UT Executive Vice President and Provost, get up from their chairs at the Capitol after testifying on Senate Bill 2119 in Austin, Texas. less In this April 5, 2017, photo, University of Texas at Austin President Gregory Fenves, left, and Maurie McInnis, UT Executive Vice President and Provost, get up from their chairs at the Capitol after testifying ... more AUSTIN, Texas - Socked by sagging energy prices, Texas lawmakers have less than two months to strike a deal on an austere budget that threatens cuts to everything from higher education to Medicaid.
Animated graph shows how USA has become more polarized in last 20 years
A recent Pew Report reported that in 1994, 64% of Republicans were more conservative than the median Democrat on a political values scale. By 2014, 92% of Republicans were more conservative than the median Democrat.
Trump’s ‘School Choice’ Plan: Religious Fundamentalism At Taxpayer Expense
School vouchers programs have proven a collosal failure and yet President Donald Trump and his Education Secretary Betsy DeVos now want to make the whole nation suffer by kicking the door wide open for public school dollars available to religious-based and other private schools. President Donald Trump is being praised for a change in tone in his recent address to Congress , but his belligerent attitude toward public education hasn't changed a bit.
Founders had different idea
If all the rules and regulations by which we are forced to live are such good ideas, why are so many of them promulgated unilaterally? Why were the checks and balances the Founders built into our system of government abandoned? We're taught in school that basic rules in the form of laws have to be approved by both houses of Congress, then the ... (more)
Transgender Students, For-Profit Colleges And Changes To The SAT
In technical terms, the departments of Justice and Education this week rescinded Obama-era guidance on the interpretation of Title IX, the law that prohibits sex discrimination in education. In symbolic terms, the Trump administration backed away from endorsing transgender civil rights on the federal level, at least as they concern students.
One month in, anti-Trump movement shows signs of sustained momentum
People chant outside of The Stonewall Inn during a protest against the Trump administration's move to rescind guidance allowing transgender students to use the bathrooms of their choice, in Manhattan, New York, U.S., February 23, 2017. People listen during a protest against the Trump administration's move to rescind guidance allowing transgender students to use the bathrooms of their choice, in Manhattan, New York, U.S., February 23, 2017.
Senate Democrats seek answers about a Trump higher ed task force
Betsy DeVos greets Sen. Patty Murray before her confirmation hearing on Jan. 17. DeVos took office as education secretary on Feb. 7. Senate Democrats are asking Education Secretary Betsy DeVos for details on a higher education task force that the president of Liberty University says the Trump administration has asked him to lead. In a letter to DeVos released Thursday, six lawmakers said they are concerned that there has been no public explanation by the president or the administration about the purview of the task force.
Feds’ disability education website: Still down, still no response
Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., They are asking U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos when a popular website explaining the federal Individuals With Disabilities Act will again be available to the public. It has been down for three weeks, supposedly for technical difficulties.
Yes, Education Secretary DeVos made a bear joke while addressing department staff for the first time
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos addressed the staff at the U.S. Education Department for the first time on Wednesday, and during it made a joke about bears. "No need to pull any punches.
Betsy DeVos confirmed as Education secretary
Democrats said she had no experience as an educator, administrator or even as a parent or student in public schools. Betsy DeVos confirmed Education secretary; Pence casts deciding vote Democrats said she had no experience as an educator, administrator or even as a parent or student in public schools.
School choice advocates see ally in GOP Gov. Sununu
Advocates of school choice see an ally in Gov. Chris Sununu, New Hampshire's first Republican governor in a dozen years. Sununu has opined on the need for parents to have more choice, nominated a businessman who homeschooled his kids to lead the education department, and supports legislation that would allow some towns to use taxpayer dollars for private school tuition.
Cowley touts link to FHSU and wins governor’s salute
If Fort Hays State University Interim President Andy Tompkins had been at the Friday press conference in Topeka where Gov. Sam Brownback hailed the winner of the $15,000 college degree challenge, Tompkins would have described a bigger pool of winners.
DeVos clears Senate hurdle toward becoming ed secy
Betsy DeVos's embattled nomination for education secretary cleared another hurdle in the Senate on Friday as Republicans overpowered fierce resistance from Democrats. Senators voted 52-48 to cut off debate in an early-morning session, setting the stage for a final confirmation vote next week on President Donald Trump's nominee.
DeVos nomination at risk with two…
What previously appeared to be a near-certain chance of Betsy DeVos becoming President Donald Trump's education secretary took a hit Wednesday as two Republican U.S. senators said they would vote against her. U.S. Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska delivered statements from the floor of the U.S. Senate saying they could not support DeVos' nomination, questioning both her experience and commitment to public schools.