Education

At Ed Money Watch, we discuss and analyze major issues affecting education funding. In our Friday News Roundup, we try to highlight interesting stories that might otherwise get overlooked. These stories emphasize how federal and state policy changes can affect local schools and districts.

Alabama Considers Charter Schools in Pursuit of Federal Race to the Top Funds

New York Plans to Reform Teacher Preparation Efforts

Missouri Freezes Higher Education Tuition

Florida Will Request $1 Billion in Federal Race to the Top Funds

At Ed Money Watch, we discuss and analyze major issues affecting education funding. In our Friday News Roundup, we try to highlight interesting stories that might otherwise get overlooked. These stories emphasize how federal and state policy changes can affect local schools and districts.

New Mexico Lawmaker Proposes Budget Fix Using Endowment Fund

Colorado Cuts to Education Bigger than Expected

More Cuts for South Carolina Schools

At Ed Money Watch, we discuss and analyze major issues affecting education funding. In our Friday News Roundup, we try to highlight interesting stories that might otherwise get overlooked. These stories emphasize how federal and state policy changes can affect local schools and districts.

As Enrollment Grows in Utah, Budget Shrinks

Arizona Budget Shortfall Forces Cuts

Pennsylvania Universities Anxiously Await Decision on Gambling Taxes

Nebraska Legislators Propose Cuts to School Aid

Kentucky Higher Education Council to Vote on Budget Plan

At Ed Money Watch, we discuss and analyze major issues affecting education funding. In our Friday News Roundup, we try to highlight interesting stories that might otherwise get overlooked. These stories emphasize how federal and state policy changes can affect local schools and districts.

Montana Education Officials Doubtful About Race to the Top Chances

Colorado Governor Unveils Plan to Close Budget Shortfalls

School Districts in Oklahoma Face Steep Cuts as Funding Streams Dry Up

New York Governor Proposes New Cuts as Deficit Climbs

Massachusetts Governor Makes New Cuts, Spares Education

At Ed Money Watch, we discuss and analyze major issues affecting education funding. In our Friday News Roundup, we try to highlight interesting stories that might otherwise get overlooked. These stories emphasize how federal and state policy changes can affect local schools and districts.

Michigan Governor Signs Education Budget, Vetoes Some School Funding

Education Not Spared in Iowa Governor's Budget Cuts

Lawsuits Filed Over Hawaii Teacher Furloughs

Massachusetts Disputes Pew Report on Early Education Spending

Mississippi Contemplates School District Consolidations

At Ed Money Watch, we discuss and analyze major issues affecting education funding. In our Friday News Roundup, we try to highlight interesting stories that might otherwise get overlooked. These stories emphasize how federal and state policy changes can affect local schools and districts.

Study Finds that California Furloughs Don't Save As Much As Expected

Big Ten Schools Suffer from State Budget Cuts

Louisiana State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education Passes Tentative Budget

Pennsylvania Finalizes Budget, School Districts Adjust

By Jamie Zimmerman & Shweta Banerjee

Notoriously resource-rich, poverty-stricken and conflict-prone, the Niger Delta region has always been viewed among the unlikeliest places for reform, particularly one that "spreads the wealth." But this week we are proud to announce that the Bayelsa State Government (BYSG) located in the delta region of Nigeria will launch of a policy pilot that provides matched savings accounts to children and youth throughout the state's eight districts. This initiative is not only the first government-supported anti-poverty intervention in the Niger Delta region, but the first state-wide CDA policy pilot in the developing world.   

At Ed Money Watch, we discuss and analyze major issues affecting education funding. In our Friday News Roundup, we try to highlight interesting stories that might otherwise get overlooked. These stories emphasize how federal and state policy changes can affect local schools and districts.

Michigan Governor to Veto Budget Cuts

States Are Not Using Stimulus to Boost Aid for Schools

Education Professionals Ask Illinois to Fund Programs

Alabama Budget Cuts Loom as Tax Revenues Shrink

In the coming weeks, the Senate is expected to begin consideration of a companion bill to the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act adopted by the House of Representatives last month. In an effort to derail the legislation, which would expand the Direct Loan program and eliminate the Federal Family Education Loan program (FFEL), the student loan industry has been making some pretty outrageous arguments to Senators and staff. Consider our favorite example below from loan industry talking points -- which Higher Ed Watch has obtained -- that were provided to Senate staff.

MYTH: Forcing all students to borrow Direct Loans will save billions over the next 10 years by eliminating huge subsidies being paid to private lenders.

FACT: Lenders are not being paid subsidies. This year, lenders will pay the government $9 billion in interest that is passed on from borrowers and in fees. (Source: Budget Appendix, page 388)

It is easy to understand why anyone would be confused by such a statement. Why would private lenders care so much about the proposed elimination of FFEL if they weren't getting any government subsidies under the program? If that were the case, lenders would stand to lose nothing when the program is eliminated -- they would be able to continue to make loans to students at the same FFEL borrower terms as before. Nothing in law would prevent them from doing so.

Last week, the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) released "Projections of Education Statistics to 2018," a report predicting enrollment and expenditure increases in education over the coming decade.  These projections can provide important information to states and school districts as they seek to invest new funds available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Strategic investments today can help states and school districts cope with rapidly increasing populations, postsecondary institutions prepare for the shifting needs of those seeking higher education, and policymakers rethink investments to better serve schools and students.

PK-12

According to the NCES study, public school enrollment is expected to increase by 9 percent between 2006 and 2018 from 55.3 million to 59.8 million students. This increase will occur mostly in the South and West, with the greatest increases in Arizona, Nevada, and Texas. The Northeast is projected to see a decrease, led by Rhode Island and New York. Nationally, the greatest enrollment increases are expected to occur in the PK-8 grades.