Duluth Public Schools to Hold Referendum for Digital Curriculum, Technology and Security Needs Voters will consider a $5.2 million per year capital projects levy during a special election on Tuesday, May 14 The Duluth School Board unanimously approved a resolution Tuesday night to return to voters with a request to invest in critically needed technology, security and digital curriculum upgrades across the district. The proposed investment plan would spend $5.2 million per year over a 10-year term to create a resilient and sustainable digital infrastructure for the district and improve physical and digital security for students and staff. A referendum will be held during a special election on Tuesday, May 14 to give district residents the opportunity to vote on the investment. Of the total first-year investments, the approximate breakdown of spending would include: • 24 % - Learning technology upgrades for classrooms, students and staff • 22% - Cybersecurity and physical safety measures such as firewalls, data encryption, security cameras, and 911 service • 16% - Digital curriculum and professional development • 15% - Technology and security maintenance staff • 13% - Digital infrastructure such as phone, internet, and software systems • 10% - Career and technical education program maintenance and upgrades “This plan aims to improve student safety and academic success,” said Superintendent John Magas of the proposed investments. “These are fundamental investments that will contribute to students’ learning on a daily basis and help keep them and their information safe.” The district asked voters to consider a similar plan during the general election back in November 2023. That plan was rejected by less than 300 votes, while a second ballot question to restructure debt spending was approved. The new plan would cost the same amount and support similar initiatives as the 2023 plan, but also invest in upgrades to equipment and resources to enhance career and technical education. “The security and technology improvements that our district needs haven’t changed,” said Magas. “It was important to us to develop a plan to address these challenges now, rather than wait and let the gap between what we have and what we need grow even wider.” If the referendum is approved by voters, a capital projects levy will be assessed on property owned within the district beginning in 2025. Owners of a $315,000 home would see a monthly tax increase of $10.87 per month. Full details of the investment plan and referendum on May 14 will soon be available at FutureForward709.org. District leaders also plan to hold informational meetings with parents, staff and community groups over the coming months prior to the election to share details and answer questions about the referendum.
Duluth Public Schools’ Post
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Educational Savings Account Information #6 Funding – Currently, public schools are funded by the new TISA formula. This formula funds public schools with a base rate of 6,860. In addition, schools receive additional funds through Direct Funding, Weighted Funding and Outcomes Funding. Direct funding is based upon several different factors. An example is a school with students in K-3 receive base plus 500 because of the needs of students in this grade band. In addition, a school can receive additional funding for performance. For example, If a student is identified as economically disadvantaged, an EL, or a student with a disability, then a student meeting the academic target generates a bonus of 20% of the base funding amount. Finally, a school can receive additional funding for various classifications for students. For example, a school will receive an additional 25% of the base for a student that is classified as economically disadvantaged. Under the current proposal for ESA’s none of the funding mechanisms for public schools are changed. Currently, public schools only get state funding for students attending their school. Therefore, students that are currently enrolled in any other school besides their local public school that enroll in the ESA program will have no impact on the local school system budget. The only impact on a local school system budget is when a currently enrolled student elects to attend another school (another public school, charter school, home school, TN virtual school, online program or private school etc..). I am thankful for our local public schools, and I support them. I also believe in supporting families, and their ability to choose the best school for their children. You can learn more about TISA funding at https://lnkd.in/gt3khVsR or the ESA proposal at https://lnkd.in/gBdZHzSg
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>30 years experience at >10 universities. My values - Grace for others (love in action), Humility (continual learning), Gratitude (joy for life), & Hope (leads to perseverance). Let's live each day like it is our last!
Interesting. When all ~16 state universities are expected to be strong partners, this incredibly generous state-funded higher ed program, which focuses on providing college access to 4 specific state universities, could be having a negative impact on others. For the 4 institutions, the impacts have been clear: sizable boosts in enrollment, paired with the financial subsidies from the state legislature, have breathed new life into struggling campuses; in at least one case, NC Promise has likely saved a university from closure. But NC Promise has played a role in enrollment declines at several of the other 12 UNC system schools — those that are not part of NC Promise — contributing to a significant drop in tuition revenue and causing severe cutbacks, at least according to administrators at those schools. “The introduction of the four Promise schools have hurt us,” University of North Carolina at Greensboro Chancellor Franklin D. Gilliam, Jr. said in a university address last fall. “And we’ve got the data to show that.” NC Promise was pitched as a “first dollar” program that lowered the cost of tuition to $500 per semester for in-state students and $2,500 for out-of-state students. UNC Greensboro Chancellor Franklin Gilliam had some bad news to break in his state of the university address. Enrollment over the past five years had plummeted by 10%, costing the university over $22 million in tuition and fees. Gilliam specifically cited the NC Promise program as drawing students away from UNC Greensboro, where tuition costs $7,661 per year for in-state students — more than seven times what it costs to attend an NC Promise school. Declining enrollment and tuition revenue were main factors in UNCG eliminating 20 academic programs, majors and minors from the university, leading to faculty layoffs. Marcio Moreno, University of North Carolina Asheville’s associate vice chancellor for admissions and financial aid, has experience working at several schools throughout the UNC System, including one promise institution. “It’s very difficult to compete with that number,” Moreno said. “People see the $500 per semester or $2500 per semester and that’s impressive. And that adds a lot of, you’re going to pull a lot of people toward those universities.” “Now that I am in a non-Promise school, it’s difficult to explain to families sometimes why they have such an attractive package in certain institutions and we don’t offer something like that.” UNC Asheville’s enrollment is down 25% in the past five years, leading to a current $6 million deficit. Compare that to Western Carolina University, an NC Promise school about an hour away, where enrollment has grown. A year of tuition at UNC Asheville is $4,122 for North Carolina students. That’s more than 4X more expensive than Western Carolina."
Selective low tuition program boosts enrollment for member universities. What’s the cost for those left out?
wunc.org
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https://lnkd.in/e8Fg4Bmj Jay-Z, Roc Nation Double Down on Support of Controversial $300 Million Private School Program Despite Critiques By Shanelle Genai Fri, June 14, 2024 at 3:11 PM EDT Despite an outcry of criticism and fervor from folks online who didn’t understand why Jay-Z and his company Roc Nation would lend their support behind a controversial Pennsylvania bill/school program that seeks to acquire $300 million for low-income students to attend private schools instead of the public school system—Jay and Roc are holding steadfast on their position. In a statement sent to The Root, Roc Nation explained why they felt they needed to get behind this program citing their belief that it’s the only option they’ve come across that actually puts the needs of the children first and that the support isn’t politically motivated. “While opposition dissects the future of public and private schools and debates our support of the Pennsylvania Award for Student Success (PASS), they are missing the most critical component of this entire equation – the children. Not once are the children mentioned. Not once are the dire proficiency levels of the children in Pennsylvaniaacknowledged,” the statement read in part. “At the end of the day, Roc Nation’s advocacy is centered around children and their right to seek the best options for quality education. If PASS scholarship legislation is approved, the initiative would empower parents and caretakers to evaluate multiple school programs and make informed scholastic decisions for the well-being of their children. Otherwise, parents are simply at the mercy of the system, where their kids’ academic futures are predetermined based on economic status and the location of their homes. The reality is the current system is fundamentally flawed and failing our youth." . . . .
Jay-Z, Roc Nation Double Down on Support of Controversial $300 Million Private School Program Despite Critiques
yahoo.com
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Ph.D., former CEO & Distinguished Research Professor at SchoolMatch Institute - University of Dayton (2001-2018)
from William L. Phillis | Ohio Coalition for Equity & Adequacy of School Funding | “The aura of the Department of Education is controlled by partisan politics when K12 education is embedded in a governor’s office. From 1976 to 1992 I was an assistant Superintendent of Public Instruction during the time that the State Board of Education was an all-elected 4th branch of state government. Partisan politics was not a factor in decision making and leadership strategies regarding hiring practices for Department employees, services to be provided to school districts, education improvement planning, formulation of standards, etc. The Superintendent of Public Instruction was considered the district superintendents’ superintendent. The Department staff was cognizant that the Department doesn’t educate children, and thus the only role of the Department is to assist school districts in multiple ways to improve educational opportunities for all the children of all the people. The Department was readily available to assist all other state officials, as well as school district personnel. There was no consideration of “D” or “R” politics in the operation of the Department. The Department reported to the State Board of Education which was elected on a nonpartisan basis. That independence shielded the Department from partisan politics. For example, a particular governor instructed the Department to hire 35 persons that helped him get elected. His office was told that if any of them had at least a Masters Degree and at least five years’ experience in education, they would be considered along with other applicants. The governor’s office was not pleased with that response, but the Department was free to focus on its mission by employing persons on the basis of merit, rather than politics. A governor-controlled education department will become a den of partisans who have a job to do without any firm commitment to the public common school system. When the law was changed to require 8 State Board members to be appointed, politics started to invade the Department. The partisan politics has already begun in the newly minted Department. The Science of Reading initiative in the Governor’s budget seems to have been planted in the budget via a deep-pocketed campaign contributor who is on the Board of Jeb Bush’s ExcelinEd organization that promotes the Science of Reading. Hence, the Science of Reading is being mandated by political decision and not by a decision that was informed by Ohio educators, particularly those who teach reading. Without getting into the political debate about the merits or faults of the Science of Reading, the issue here is how the Science of Reading became a mandate for all Ohio school districts. The lesson is that if one is a political supporter of a governor or other influential public officials, your pet project could be mandated for all school districts without any …” VOUCHERS HURT OHIO
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I don't know any details other than what I read in the link below; there is very likely much more to the story. But the report is that thousands of student grades were changed to improve high school graduation rates. Students were passing classes and getting diplomas without demonstrating mastery of content and academic standards. We have seen similar stories like this in education over a couple of decades. When we focus on one metric (e.g. test scores, graduation rates, number of industry certifications, reducing suspensions, reducing students failing courses, etc....) and don't have a range of metrics to track progress and success, it often results in people pursuing any and all means to game the system. I have this quote on the wall by my work computer: "The more any qualitative social indicator is used for social decision making, the more subject it will be to corruption pressures and the more apt it will be to distort and corrupt the social processes it is intended to monitor." -Donald Campbell How can we ensure that things like this don't happen? Use multiple measures. Using this linked example, this is why I recommend to every school district leader that they track student postsecondary enrollment, persistence, and degree completion using National Student Clearinghouse data. Yes, high school graduation is important to track and celebrate. But if we are simply graduating students who are not making successful postsecondary transitions, then we are not properly preparing our students for success. Multiple measures are always better than pursuing one single measure of success. And multiple measures provides ways to triangulate data and verify that we are obtaining the results that we want to achieve. Focusing too much on one metric and rewarding schools for making progress on a single metric without proper checks and balances does not benefit our students and families.
Two Clinton High School teachers fired after changing nearly 1,500 grades, report says
wvlt.tv
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As Commonwealth Court's recent ruling affirms the unconstitutionality of PA's school funding formula, we look forward to an end to one piece of institutionalized injustice that has impeded full access to a free and fair public education for all of PA's students. The latest state budget includes a significant - and just - increase in funding for the School District of Philadelphia and many other historically underfunded districts. As a Philadelphia-based, school-focused team, we are hopeful this initial step endures as a lasting commitment of the Commonwealth on behalf of our children and their futures. As strategic planners, we know strong commitments grounded in powerful visions for the future are only the start of what needs to become sustained planning, resources, accountability, and implementation support. We look forward to working alongside our school clients, partner organizations, community leaders, and lawmakers to ensure this first step becomes the new norm in expectation of educational funding and that effective implementation and accountability lead to more equitable learning environments for all of the students of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, regardless of their zip code.
Pennsylvania schools just scored a big funding win. Some say there’s unfinished business.
chalkbeat.org
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Pennsylvania students pay more for higher education than almost anywhere else. That’s primarily because the amount our state contributes to tuition is the second worst in the nation, averaging $6,100 per student compared with the national average of $10,200. Average tuition at a public institution for a Pennsylvania resident is $26,000 — 70% more than the national average. This is enough to discourage many Pennsylvania students from continuing their education after high school and keep older adults seeking new skills from turning to college to help. As a result, employers may struggle to find people to fit their needs. And even though they’d much prefer to work to pay their bills, far too many people (nearly 25%) have to rely on publicly funded social programs to get by. Yet education beyond high school — whether that means learning a trade or working on a certificate, studying for a degree or taking classes to obtain new skills — has never been more important in the lives of Pennsylvanians. https://lnkd.in/emepSA3k
Gov. Shapiro wants to fix higher ed in Pa. His plan is just a start. | Opinion
inquirer.com
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Did You Know? From the Article: A big promise When it was proposed by Republican leadership in the North Carolina General Assembly, NC Promise was pitched as a “first dollar” program that lowered the cost of tuition to $500 per semester for in-state students and $2,500 for out-of-state students. It was championed by Phil Berger, Senate President Pro Tem, and drew swift criticism from progressives who feared it was an effort to cut funding for higher education – particularly to the state’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities. But the legislation passed as part of the 2016 state budget, and in 2018 NC Promise launched with three schools: Elizabeth City State University, an HBCU; UNC Pembroke, a Historically American Indian University; and Western Carolina University, the westernmost institution in the UNC System. Four years later, another HBCU, Fayetteville State University, was added. UNC System NC Promise institutions include Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University, UNC-Pembroke and Western Carolina University. State budget allocations started at up to $40 million per year for the three participating schools and was increased in each subsequent budget. The allocation is now $82.5 million. Booming student enrollment Almost immediately, the NC Promise schools saw sizable gains in enrollment — their highest in decades and reversing the trend of declines. For Elizabeth City State University, that growth likely helpedprevent it from shutting down. UNC System Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs David English said the NC Promise Program has helped to both stabilize and grow enrollment. “[It’s helped] those institutions at a time where regional public universities across the country have faced some really difficult headwinds,” English said. Those national “headwinds” include changing opinions about the value of a degree, and a declining birth rate that’s resulting in fewer traditionally-aged students attending college. But the NC Promise program seems to have negated those factors at the participating schools.
Selective low tuition program boosts enrollment for member universities. What’s the cost for those left out?
wfae.org
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📢 Cast your vote now for the 2024 Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association (WUSA) General Elections 📢 https://vote.wusa.ca/ Hey there, Chevin here. I'm running for ✔ Director ✔ on WUSA. 🗳 WHY SHOULD YOU VOTE FOR ME? 🗳 During my tenure as Director in 2023, I: 1) Scrutinized Annual and Special Purpose Audit Financial Statements as Audit Committee Chair 2) Oversaw the Board Policy Manual and 23/24 Work- Plan Approval processes 3) Participated in the assessment of SSF fee proposals as part of Student Services Advisory Committee I’m capable of lending my institutional knowledge of UW processes to the newly restructured board as it establishes itself. My vision is to preserve a plurality of students’ values. Here are the core areas I aim to address: ✅ Increasing the transparency of financial controls. Thousands of students rely on our board and committees to ensure funds are used correctly. This isn't just about crunching numbers; it's about trust and responsibility, especially in a student environment where misused funds can significantly impact us all. I would like to advocate for: ☑ Increasing the $75 club fee funding, recognizing the financial strain it places on students. ☑ Discounted Venue Rentals: Lobby for discounted rates or even free access to university-based venues for student clubs, ensuring our activities are affordable and accessible. ☑ Streamlined Financial Transactions: Introduce electronic transfer systems for club accounts to expedite funding processes, replacing the cumbersome system of processing requests and issuing cheques. ☑ Administrative Efficiency: Overhaul the current administrative framework to speed up operations, lessen workload, and provide better support to clubs, while maintaining robust measures against fraud. Read more about it on my reddit post: https://lnkd.in/g9sihZay ✅ Support for Mental Health and Accessibility Improving students' access to AccessAbility Services (AAS) and amending Counselling Services’ current "six-session limit". This soft rule leads to misconceptions and may discourage some students from seeking help. Not many students know that students with mental illness or trauma from sexual assault/harassment can qualify for academic accommodations through AccessAbility, without needing a formal diagnosis. ✅ Collaborating closely with the Centre for Career Action (CECA), Waterloo Professional Development Program (WatPD), and a dedicated cohort of students, to engage in the revamping and comprehensive overhaul of outdated Professional Development (PD) courses, aiming to enhance their relevance and efficacy. 🚨voting ends Wed, Feb 14th 11:59 pm Your voice matters. Vote for your next student leaders.
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We have to invest in our future in education!!! Gov. Evers to Ask Legislature to Approve Largest Increase in State Support for UW System in Over Two Decades UW System campus financial assessments highlight need for significant state investment after years of inadequate funding and budget cuts MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today released the following statement in reaction to the University Financial Assessments released by the University of Wisconsin (UW) System for seven UW campuses: UW-Green Bay, UW-Oshkosh, UW-Parkside, UW-Platteville, UW-River Falls, UW-Superior, and UW-Whitewater. The assessments examine the strained financial circumstances facing UW System campuses—a consequence driven largely by both disinvestment in the UW System over the last decade-plus and inadequate recent state investments approved by the Wisconsin State Legislature to make the UW System whole. “Republican lawmakers have spent more than a decade waging war on public education in Wisconsin, including our UW System and higher education institutions, and have consistently refused to make the necessary, meaningful investments our state and our campuses desperately need to compete and that our students deserve. And the consequences of Republicans’ actions and inaction over the last decade-plus were laid bare in these financial assessments,” said Gov. Evers. “Our UW System is the economic engine of our state and a critical part of our state’s future success. One thing I know many Republican legislators and I have in common is that we wouldn’t be where we are today without the education we received from our public universities and the UW System,” Gov. Evers continued. “And yet, even as we face generational, statewide workforce challenges in Wisconsin, Republicans not only unconstitutionally withheld pay raises and obstructed capital building projects but have consistently refused to fully approve the important investments I’ve consistently requested over the last five years. “The simple fact is this: finally addressing the challenges facing students, faculty, and staff at our UW System campuses through meaningful long-term investments must be a top priority for the next state budget. I will be asking the Legislature to approve the largest increase in state support for the UW System in more than two decades,” Gov. Evers said. “UW campuses are already making difficult decisions, laying off and furloughing employees and restructuring and cutting altogether important programs and operations and staff, making student retention more difficult, and students, faculty, and staff shouldn’t be expected to singlehandedly bear the costs of the Legislature’s lack of meaningful state investment for the last decade. “Investing in the UW System is critical if we want to address our state’s workforce challenges and be able to compete to recruit, train, and retain talented workers. Wisconsinites deserve a UW System that is fully funded, fully functioning, and that meets the needs
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