SALEM, Oregon, April 6 -- The Oregon School Boards Association issued the following news: Most Oregon school boards will formally adopt 2024-25 budgets in June, but the real decisions are being made now as boards digest some disheartening numbers. Just as school leaders and business officials warned, the $10.2 billion 2023-25 State School Fund isn't enough for all districts to maintain their current staffing and programs. Three additional forces are making this the most difficult budget season  more

OTTAWA, Ontario, April 6 -- Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued the following statement on April 5, 2024: * * * The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on the passing of the Honourable Iona Campagnolo: "Today, I join Canadians in mourning the passing of Iona Campagnolo, a respected politician, former Cabinet minister, and former Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia. "Mrs. Campagnolo started her career in broadcasting in Prince Rupert. A believer   more

TOPEKA, Kansas, April 6 -- The International Brotherhood of Teamsters issued the following news release on April 5, 2024: * * * Drivers and Monitors Sign Cards with Teamsters, Demand Collective Bargaining Rights * * * Bus drivers and monitors at Topeka Unified School District 501 turned out to Thursday's school board meeting to demand the board members recognize their right to form a union. "Topeka bus workers deserve the right to form a union and collectively bargain for fair wages, safe w  more

DENVER, Colorado, April 6 -- The Colorado Senate Democrats issued the following news release on April 5, 2024: The 2024 School Finance Act, which sets funding levels for Colorado's public school districts, earned approval before the Senate today. Sponsored by Senators Rachel Zenzinger, D-Arvada, and Janet Buckner, D-Aurora, SB24-188 would raise the base level of per-pupil funding by $420 to $8,496, and completely buy down the Budget Stabilization Factor, a longstanding goal that will ensure Co  more

DENVER, Colorado, April 6 -- The Colorado Senate Democrats issued the following news release on April 5, 2024: Today the Senate approved the FY 2024-2025 state budget, which makes balanced investments to fully fund K-12 education, boost behavioral health care services, support Colorado's state parks, and deliver for hardworking families. "Of all the budgets that I have proudly helped to craft over the years, this one will stand out in my memory years from now," said Joint Budget Committee Vice  more

WASHINGTON, April 6 -- The Democratic Governors Association issued the following news: Former U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte reaffirmed her plans to "expand" the state's controversial school voucher program that siphons taxpayer dollars away from public schools and gives them to unaccountable private and religious schools. In a recent interview posted to social media, Ayotte said that one of the first things she would do as governor is "mak[e] sure we have education freedom in this state. We have t  more

MIDLAND, Michigan, April 6 -- The Mackinac Center for Public Policy issued the following news release: Five families across Michigan are asking the United States Supreme Court to hear a case challenging Michigan's discriminatory Blaine amendment. The Mackinac Center for Public Policy and Bursch Law, which are representing the five families and a parent advocacy group, filed a writ of certiorari yesterday. These families saved funds through the Michigan Education Savings Program, a tax-exempt 5  more

RALEIGH, North Carolina, April 5 (TNSres) -- The North Carolina Justice Center issued the following commentary on April 4, 2024: * * * Charter Advocates Make Case For Halting The Approval Of New Charters By Kris Nordstrom, Senior Policy Analyst, Education & Law Project A new report from the Fordham Institute, a pro-charter think tank, inadvertently makes the case that North Carolina should stop approving new charter schools. The report, Do Authorizer Evaluations Predict the Success of New Ch  more

SALEM, Oregon, April 6 -- The Oregon School Boards Association issued the following news: Most Oregon school boards will formally adopt 2024-25 budgets in June, but the real decisions are being made now as boards digest some disheartening numbers. Just as school leaders and business officials warned, the $10.2 billion 2023-25 State School Fund isn't enough for all districts to maintain their current staffing and programs. Three additional forces are making this the most difficult budget season  more