Too Little, Too Late for Many Gubernatorial Candidates on Education Funding

After slashing their states' education funding for years, some incumbent governors up for re-election in 2018 are trying to convince voters that they've seen the error of their ways by claiming that they will prioritize education going forward. But voters should be cautious about believing such promises.

School days: Florida candidates differ widely on education

Florida's two main contenders for governor are making widely different promises when it comes to the state's education system. Republican Ron DeSantis on Tuesday vowed to expand the state's private school voucher program while at the same time pledging to spend more on classrooms by making cuts in other parts of the education budget.

Big-name charter school backers donate to key governor races

Prominent charter school supporters are dishing out campaign money, as key gubernatorial races in several states have now begun in earnest. June primary contests set up a number of state battles for governor in the midterm elections this November, with both Democratic and Republican candidates that could change how public resources flow into charter and private schools in the coming years.

It’s Past Time We Tackled Education Reform

While Education Secretary Betsy DeVos has been the source of several negative and polarizing news stories since her appointment, there have actually been very few major news items about what the Department of Education is doing. We have some idea of what the future of the Department will be, given that it is part of a larger Trump Administration plan to consolidate government.

Op-Ed Columnist: Who’s the Worst for the Holidays?

The other day Scott Pruitt, the E.P.A. chief and well-known candidate for Worst Person in Washington, tossed some reporters out of a public conference on water contamination. Pruitt has been in a long-running battle with Education Secretary Betsy DeVos for the title of most terrible Trump minion.

The Problem With Privatizing Public Education for Military Students

On March 7, Rep. Jim Banks introduced the Military Education Savings Act of 2018 to divert funding from a long-standing federal program, Impact Aid, into a voucher-like program to pay for private school tuition, tutoring, or homeschooling materials for military families. The bill is modeled off a Heritage Foundation proposal, which is supported by Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, to create education savings accounts for certain military-connected students-or students who have a parent on active duty.

A new proposal would let Californians donate to the state instead of paying taxes.

California Democrats are toying with a brash scheme to skirt a new federal cap on state and local tax deductions: Instead of paying taxes to the Golden State, Californians would be allowed to donate the money to the state's coffers - and deduct the entire sum from their federal taxes. The hastily drafted proposal - to be unveiled as soon as Wednesday, when lawmakers return from a monthslong recess - strikes back at one of the least popular elements of the GOP's tax overhaul, one that hit California and other high-tax, high-cost states the hardest.

Budget Committee Approves Education Funding Plan Monday, August 28

The state legislature's budget-writing committee has signed-off on a plan that will increase education funding from the state by $639 million over the next two years. The package of changes approved by the Republican-controlled Joint Finance Committee on Monday includes an increase in per-pupil funding, raises income eligibility caps for private school vouchers, and puts restrictions on when school districts can hold referenda votes.

Navy: Only woman in SEAL training pipeline drops out

Authorities say an SUV being chased by the U.S. Border Patrol in the San Diego area tumbled off a freeway, killing three occupants. Authorities say an SUV being chased by the U.S. Border Patrol in the San Diego area tumbled off a freeway, killing three occupants.

School choice program raises questions about accountability

TAX CRED SCHOOL VOUCHERS 081117: Map states with tax credit school voucher programs; 2c x 3 inches; with BC-US--Tax Credit School Vouchers; JEM; ETA 3 a.m. In this photo taken Aug. 8, 2017, Kelsey Nellis, second from right, instructs employees in preparation for the start of the school year at the Mountain View Christian Schools in Las Vegas. More than a third of U.S. states have created school voucher programs that bypass thorny constitutional and political issues by turning them over to non-profits that rely primarily on businesses to fund them.

Court tosses ruling against religious school subsidies

Sig Sauer Academy says it's taking steps to improve the safety of its shooting ranges next to Route 101 after a state police investigation found bullets from the popular training facility were... California Attorney General Xavier Becerra has issued a decree banning state employees from traveling to Texas because Becerra has determined the state's ... (more)

Nevada leaders deal blows to school vouchers, paid sick time

A feud between Nevada's political leaders is threatening to derail their top legislative priorities and delay the state budget. Democratic lawmakers and Republican Gov. Brian Sandoval exchanged potentially fatal blows to each other's policy initiatives on Thursday after an impasse on political negotiations surrounding Education Savings Accounts.