Fast Report

Kansas must provide more money to schools

•`Kansas is not spending enough money on public education, the state Supreme Court ruled Jan. 3.

The court gave the state legislature until April 12 to determine how much money is needed. “It is clear increased funding will be required,” the court states. “However, increased funding may not in and of itself make the financing formula constitutionally suitable.”

The court directed lawmakers to make sure the funds are distributed equitably, based on actual education costs, “rather than political and other factors not relevant to education.”

The Kansas Association of School Boards says the Supreme Court ruling “validates KASB’s positions on school finance.”

Commentator was paid to promote NCLB

•The Bush Administration paid TV commentator Armstrong Williams $240,000 to promote the No Child Left Behind Act, USA Today reported Jan. 7. The contract called for Williams to regularly comment on NCLB during his nationally syndicated television show, “The Right Side,” and in his newspaper columns, urge other black journalists to do the same, and interview Rod Paige, who was then secretary of education.

Several Democratic members of Congress have requested an investigation and have urged the President to “publicly renounce the use of covert propaganda to influence public opinion,” calling the practice “unethical and dangerous.”

Williams later admitted he “exercised poor judgment in continuing to write about a topic which my PR firm [Graham Williams Group] was being paid to promote.”

Williams’ contract was part of a $1 million deal between the Bush Administration and the Ketchum public relations firm, which also included the production of “video news releases” on NCLB designed to look like news reports. The U.S. General Accounting Office ruled the Administration’s use of similar prepackaged videos to promote its health policies is “covert propaganda.”

California budget cuts school funding

•School board leaders in California say Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s budget proposals could result in the loss of hundreds of millions of dollars in education funding.

whe governor proposed a constitutional amendment to alter Proposition 98, which established a statewide funding base.

That measure, approved by voters in 1988, ensures that schools and community colleges receive at least 40 percent of state spending each year, an amount that rises when the economy is strong.

But it also has allowed the state to withhold funding for schools when revenues slump, with the promise to pay back the money. That’s what happened last year, when the governor diverted $2 billion earmarked for education to other purposes.

ýcott Plotkin, executive director of the California School Boards Association, criticized Schwarzenegger for reneging on a budget deal he made last year with education leaders. That deal allowed the state to suspend Proposition 98 for one year and forgo—the $2 billion the state owed schools. In return, the governor promised to restore the $2 billion this year and protect schools against further cuts.

The governor would amend the budget process by allowing the state to make across-the-board cuts in state spending if the legislature can’t agree on a plan to reduce the budget by a specified deadline.

Schwarzenegger also proposed a merit pay plan for teachers and proposed that school districts -- not the state -- fund contributions to California’s teacher retirement system.

The governor’s contention that California schools are overfunded is “grossly inaccurate,” says CSBA President Kerry Clegg. A recent study by the Rand Corp. says California ranks 43rd in state spending.

Texas allows time off for high test scores

•The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has proposed allowing school districts to give students 10 days off if they score well on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS).

Some educators say the plan would allow teachers to give more individualized attention to struggling students. But others say it would be a logistical nightmare.

Other opponents of the plan say parents would face extra child care costs and that it would shortchange high-achieving students by cutting their instructional time.

The plan was originally included in a law passed in 2003 but was not implemented because TEA said districts had to extend the school year for low-performing students if they wanted to give a break to high-scoring students. TEA issued a new interpretation of the law in early 2005 to let districts reduce the instructional time for students who do well on the TAKS without adding days for other students.

Public comments sought on new IDEA

•The U.S. Education Department is soliciting comments and recommendations from the public on the recently enacted Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004, states a notice in the Dec. 29 Federal Register.

The comments, which the department will consider as it develops regulations to implement the new law, are due Feb. 28.