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The Age
20-05-2025
- Business
- The Age
$400 student bonus cut, but these schools won sought-after upgrades
Families will have to do without the universally available $400 School Saving Bonus as the government takes a more targeted approach to cost-of-living relief. With more than a third of the $282 million allocated to the scheme this year still unspent, the government will instead put $318 million over the next four years towards free public transport for under 18s, in a move that will save families $755 on the annual cost of a student transport pass. The direct support effort, outlined in Tuesday's state budget, will shift to disadvantaged school families. Healthcare- or concession-card holding parents will be entitled to $400 per secondary student and $256 per primary-aged child next year to pay for camps, sports and excursions, in a move set to cost $152 million over the next four years. Families with children at school have borne the brunt of the cost-of-living crisis, with education costs far outstripping every other area of household spending in the key CPI inflation measure since 2021, with schooling and associated costs soaring by 25 per in those four years. There will be an extra 65,000 'get active kids vouchers' made available at a cost of $15 million, giving eligible families $200 to cover the price of sports registrations, memberships, clothing or equipment. Other big-spending education budget items include $320 million to continue the disability inclusion program in government schools and $33 million next financial year for transport to specialist government schools, including new routes. Students from non-English-speaking households will benefit from $56 million to be spent in the next two years, including more children in the English as a Second Language program.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Chicago Teachers Union members overwhelmingly ratify new contract with CPS
The Brief The Chicago Teachers Union members voted overwhelmingly to ratify a new contract last week, the group announced on Monday. About 97% of the members who weighed in voted to approve the deal. CTU has nearly 30,000 members. The contract includes teacher and staff pay raises, class size limits, more planning time, and more funding for various programs. CHICAGO - The Chicago Teachers Union overwhelmingly voted to ratify a new contract with Chicago Public Schools last week with 97% of voters supporting the deal, the union announced on Monday. About 85% of the nearly 30,000 members of the CTU voted on the latest proposal last week and the votes were tallied over the weekend. Every member had a chance to vote on the contract. The contract still requires final approval from the Chicago Board of Education. What we know The contract will be in effect through the 2028-29 school year after approval from all levels. The contract took almost a year to negotiate and was won without a strike vote, the union pointed out. The CTU said the contract includes funding for 90 new librarians, 215 additional case managers, 400 more teachers assistants, and 68 new centralized technology coordinator positions. In an announcement, the CTU said the new deal "will represent a major leap forward in the transformation of a district that is still recovering from the gutting and financial irresponsibility" of former Mayor Rahm Emanuel and former CPS CEOs Arne Duncan and Paul Vallas. The union also called out sitting district CEO Pedro Martinez saying he was an obstruction to the process. Dig deeper The four-year contract includes an overall pay raise of at least 16% for all teachers, with annual increases between 4% and 8.5%, plus step increases based on a teacher's years of service. The starting salary for new teachers will increase to nearly $69,000, while the median CPS teacher will earn more than $98,000 by fiscal year 2026. Other key provisions include: Class size limits: Kindergarten capped at 25 students, grades 1-3 at 28 students, grades 4-8 at 30 students, and high school classes between 29-31 students. CPS will increase funding for additional teachers and aides to help manage larger classes. Teacher prep time: Elementary school teachers will receive 10 additional minutes of daily planning time, bringing the total to 350 minutes per week. Additional professional development days will be restructured to provide more teacher-directed prep time. Expanded benefits: CPS will provide 100% tuition reimbursement for up to 300 teachers seeking bilingual or English as a Second Language endorsements. The district will also expand medical and dental benefits for employees making under $90,000, increase coverage for therapies, and guarantee access to abortion coverage, infertility treatments, and gender-affirming care. Student and school resources: The district will triple funding for athletics, add teacher assistants to all general education pre-K classrooms, increase funding for fine arts education, and expand the number of "sustainable community schools" from 20 to 70.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
DCS will certify students who attain literacy in two languages
Apr. 11—Decatur City Schools is implementing a new certification program for students who achieve literacy in both English and another language. The certification will let prospective employers and colleges know the student is proficient, which could help them get a job, a scholarship or college credit. Ann Marie Batista, English as a Second Language program supervisor for Decatur City Schools, unveiled the DCS Alabama seal of biliteracy plan at this week's school board meeting. "Many states around us have their own seal of biliteracy and Alabama now has its own seal, the Alabama seal of biliteracy," Batista told board members. According to the Alabama State Department of Education, the Alabama seal of biliteracy "acknowledges and communicates the value of the nation's diversity in language assets. It encourages language learners to maintain and improve their first or heritage language while also acquiring proficiency in additional languages." She said there are about 30 school districts throughout the state that already have an established biliteracy seal plan. "We are wanting to have our own established plan so we can recognize students," she said. She said the opportunity is for all students. It includes native English speakers and students with home languages that are other than English. She said it doesn't matter which language you learn first, the goal is to recognize students for their proficiency in two languages. She said students have to demonstrate their proficiency according to state standards and they have to meet high school graduation requirements. According to the State Department of Education seal of biliteracy guidelines, the seal is awarded by the department to graduating students who have demonstrated an intermediate level of proficiency in English and at least one other world language, including American Sign Language. "I think it is a very strengthening move for our graduates to be recognized for that (biliteracy) because we are all aware that knowing more than one language is the best way to go," DCS board member Peggy Baggett said. The seal will let employers and universities know the student has attained biliteracy. "Because part of purpose is to demonstrate to employers on their resume that they have an official recognition of proficiency," Batista said. "Also, some universities are beginning to accept the mid-proficiency seal in their universities allowing for some credits. There are multiple purposes. So, we think that DCS would be a wonderful place to also recognize that." When students meet the requirements, they will receive an official designation on their official transcript, she said. "If you are going for competitive scholarship or a job and you've got this designation on your transcript, then you have a leg up from someone who doesn't," Superintendent Michael Douglas said after the meeting. — or 256-340-2361
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Details released on tentative CPS-CTU contract agreement
The Brief The Chicago Teachers Union bargaining team has voted to approve a tentative contract agreement with Chicago Public Schools. The tentative agreement includes raises of at least 16% over four years. The contract sets new class size limits, increases teacher prep time, and expands benefits for educators. The next step is a vote by CTU's House of Delegates on Wednesday. CHICAGO - The Chicago Teachers Union bargaining team has voted to approve a tentative contract agreement with Chicago Public Schools, marking a significant step toward finalizing a deal after months of negotiations. What we know CTU's "big bargaining team" and executive board voted in favor of the proposed settlement Monday evening. The agreement now moves to the union's House of Delegates for a vote. If approved there, the full CTU membership then votes before the Chicago Board of Education has the final say. The proposed four-year contract includes an overall pay raise of at least 16% for all teachers, with annual increases between 4% and 8.5%, plus step increases based on years of service. The starting salary for new teachers will rise to nearly $69,000, while the median CPS teacher will make over $98,000 by fiscal year 2026. Other key provisions include: Class Size Limits: Kindergarten capped at 25 students, grades 1-3 at 28 students, grades 4-8 at 30 students, and high school classes between 29-31 students. CPS will increase funding for additional teachers and aides to help manage larger classes. Teacher Prep Time: Elementary school teachers will receive 10 additional minutes of daily planning time, bringing the total to 350 minutes per week. Additional professional development days will be restructured to provide more teacher-directed prep time. Expanded Benefits: CPS will provide 100% tuition reimbursement for up to 300 teachers seeking bilingual or English as a Second Language endorsements. The district will also expand medical and dental benefits for employees making under $90,000, increase coverage for therapies, and guarantee access to abortion coverage, infertility treatments, and gender-affirming care. Student and School Resources: The district will triple funding for athletics, add teacher assistants to all general education pre-K classrooms, increase funding for fine arts education, and expand the number of "sustainable community schools" from 20 to 70. What they're saying CPS officials say the agreement was negotiated with budget constraints in mind while still prioritizing educators and students. "We made sure that this agreement respects the hard work of our talented educators and reflects what's best for students," CPS CEO Pedro Martinez said in a statement. What's next The CTU House of Delegates will vote on the agreement Wednesday. If approved, it will move to a full membership vote for final ratification before heading to the Chicago Board of Education for approval. If passed at all levels, the contract will be in effect through the 2028-29 school year. CTU officials will discuss details of the tentative agreement at a news conference on Tuesday morning. Gov. JB Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson have not yet publicly commented on the agreement since the approval vote by CTU's bargaining team. The other side Democratic state Rep. Curtis Tarver has introduced legislation that would place the Illinois Finance Authority in control of CPS, arguing that the district's financial challenges are not being adequately addressed. "This is not new precedent. This happened in the past when CPS was borrowing to the hilt and unable to balance its books that's responsible to taxpayers and most importantly to students who attend those schools," said Tarver. A state takeover would be controversial and remains a long shot, but Tarver said he wants to hold hearings and bring stakeholders to testify. "A lot of individuals profess to care about children. A bill like this will allow us to tell if it's really about the children as opposed to the adults in the room," Tarver said. The Source The information in this article was obtained from the Chicago Teachers Union, Chicago Public Schools, and previous FOX 32 reporting.
Boston Globe
25-03-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Boston School Committee to vote on $1.58B budget Wednesday
And improving district services to both groups are required as part of a state improvement plan for Boston Public Schools that was implemented in 2022, and is due to end June 30. Superintendent Mary Skipper, in a memo to the School Committee last week, said the district must 'meet the needs of all our students and provide them with every opportunity to achieve their dreams. Advertisement 'Through this budget, I believe we can achieve that shared vision,' Skipper said. District administrators have said the inclusion plan, announced in 2023, and in the midst of a multi-year rollout across the city, is crucial for breaking down systemic racial disparities in education, and eliminating barriers that isolated English learners and special education students for years. The inclusion plan places special education students and English learners in the same classrooms with their general education peers to learn alongside one another; they previously were often segregated into separate learning environments. This was the first school year of the rollout, implementing inclusion in BPS classrooms in kindergarten, and Grades 7 and 9. For next school year, Skipper has proposed investing $10 million more into inclusive practices, including staffing, and expand those services into Grades 1, 2, 8, and 10. Skipper has also called for spending $4 million more on multilingual programs for English learners. But a local coalition of parents, educators, and school advocates are raising concerns the proposed BPS budget for next year strips nearly $8 million from English learner services, and culls dozens of bilingual educator positions. Advertisement 'While we understand the challenges of budgetary constraints, we believe the cuts in bilingual staff and programs for [multilingual learner] students negate the addition of four new bilingual programs,' the Multilingual Learners Alliance told school administrators, and members of the Boston School Committee and City Council in an e-mail earlier this month. The organization also criticized the district's multilingual learners plan — which assigns students to English-only courses with English as a Second Language (ESL) services — as 'a strategy that has proven ineffective' in preparing the vast majority of them to meet state standards. The district, in a brief response to the group that was shared with the Globe, 'No, we're not cutting bilingual staff,' the FAQ said, but it did not address the group's broader concerns about the language program. The district's budget proposal also comes at a fraught time as the Trump administration is using the threat of President Trump issued a flurry of executive orders since taking office in January, demanding K-12 schools scrap diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, support for LGBTQ students, and eliminating mentions of racism and discrimination from schools' curricula. His administration has also allowed immigration enforcement in schools. Last week, administrators and School Committee members deliberated on how the district's budget could be affected if Trump followed through on pledges to not provide federal dollars to local budgets. Advertisement For public school districts like Boston, those funds include Title 1, which provides money to support low-income students, and funding from the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which helps students in special education. David Bloom, the district's interim chief financial officer, said administrators are keeping a close eye on about $100 million of federal funding, which represents about 6 percent of the total schools budget for fiscal 2026. 'It's very significant,' Bloom told School Committee members last week, the same day Trump issued an order t Another financial issue is the cost of a The School Committee is expected to discuss the proposed agreement during a closed-door executive session Wednesday night, and vote on it at a subsequent meeting. The union is expected to vote on ratification April 9, officials have said. John Hilliard can be reached at
