Public Education March 24th, 2023
New dynamics influence education spending choices in Pennsylvania
(The Center Square) – Pennsylvania’s top education official told House lawmakers this week the state’s proposed budget makes a “down payment” on the future of schooling in the commonwealth. This, as the lower chamber contends with a new dynamic after Democrats clinched a one-seat majority in February. The party’s legislative leaders say Gov. Josh Shapiro’s investments…
Parents, Public Education March 24th, 2023
‘Intimidating parents into silence’: Garland’s FBI order on school meetings had ‘chilling’ effect, attorney testifies
(Daily Caller) – Attorney General Merrick Garland’s order directing the FBI to “use its authority” on people who protested at school board meetings led to “intimidating parents into silence,” an attorney testified at a Thursday House Judiciary Subcommittee hearing. Tyson Langhofer, senior counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), the world’s largest legal organization focused on free…
Public Education March 24th, 2023
DeSantis to reward teachers with $3K bonus for refresher training on civics
(The Center Square) – Gov. Ron DeSantis wants Florida teachers to emphasize civic education and reward those who do with a $3,000 bonus. The second-term Republican held a news conference in Orange Park Thursday to discuss the importance of teaching American civics and how it is being better implemented in Florida for school students. Teachers were…
General Education, Public Education March 24th, 2023
Missouri’s House budget committee cuts governor’s proposed increases to pre-K funding, child care subsidies
Missouri’s House budget committee made major changes to the state’s spending plan Thursday, which included cutting proposed increases to pre-K funding and child care subsidies. House Budget Committee Chairman Cody Smith, R-Carthage, submitted the revised plan to determine spending for the fiscal year starting July 1. The changes removed $56 million in funding to expand pre-K…
Public Education March 23rd, 2023
Florida lawmakers make K-12, welfare and Medicaid budget recommendations
(The Center Square) – Three of the biggest components of Florida’s state budget were revealed this week as lawmakers set out to appropriate $42 billion in state revenues for fiscal 2024. Appropriations subcommittees in both chambers Wednesday both recommended more than $35 billion for Medicaid (more than $20 billion of that coming from federal funds) and…
Culture, Public Education March 23rd, 2023
Bill regarding gender pronouns headed to Gov. Burgum’s desk in North Dakota
(The Center Square) – The North Dakota House of Representatives passed a bill Wednesday that makes using transgender student pronouns optional for teachers. Senate Bill 2231 would also ban schools and school districts from adopting policies regarding gender or offering professional development on gender issues. “This is a back-to-the-basics bill,” said Rep. Lori VanWinkle, R-Minot. “We…
Current Events, Public Education March 23rd, 2023
Youngkin appoints new superintendent of public instruction
(The Center Square) – Tennessee’s Chief Academic Officer Lisa Coons has been appointed to serve as Virginia’s new superintendent of public instruction, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Wednesday. Coons, who led Tennessee’s revision of its English Language Arts instruction in her most recent role, is expected to assume her new position as the commonwealth’s chief school officer…
Public Education March 22nd, 2023
Middle school science teacher pushes anti-capitalism and anarchy on students in biology lessons
A middle school science teacher in Minnesota is teaching anarchy and anti-capitalism in the classroom – and the district is defending her actions as free speech. Mandi Jung, a self-proclaimed “anti-capitalist” and teacher at Highland Park Middle School in Minneapolis, recommended on TikTok that teachers promote anarchist ideology and materials in their classrooms, Fox News reports. “My…
Culture, Public Education March 22nd, 2023
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signs bathroom bill aimed to protect students
Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed a bill on Tuesday restricting bathroom use in public schools to members of the same biological sex. “The Governor has said she will sign laws that focus on protecting and educating our kids, not indoctrinating them and believes our schools are no place for the radical left’s woke agenda,” said…
Current Events, Public Education March 22nd, 2023
Shooting at Denver East High School, no SROs on site, suspect found dead
Two adult faculty members were shot by a 17-year-old student in a Denver high school on Wednesday morning. The suspect, identified by police as Austin Lyle, was found dead in a remote wooded area later Wednesday, according to the Coroners office which is investigated the cause of death. The two victims, both male, have been transported…