Latest news with #SamanthaHendrickson
Time of India
27-04-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Republican states expand school vouchers despite mounting concerns over their long-term cost
FILE - Students and parents rally at the Ohio Statehouse in support of possible changes that would increase eligibility for taxpayer-funded school vouchers to K-12 students statewide, May 17, 2023, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Samantha Hendrickson, file) Republican-led states are rapidly expanding school voucher programmes even as warnings grow louder over their long-term financial sustainability. Across the nation, conservative lawmakers are advancing legislation to direct more public dollars toward private education, fueling a movement that critics say could destabilise state budgets and undermine public schools. The surge comes at a time of slowing revenue growth, dwindling federal pandemic aid, and increasing alarm over whether these sweeping initiatives are fiscally responsible over the long haul. Texas and others lead ambitious voucher rollouts amid fiscal uncertainty Texas became the latest flashpoint in the school choice debate after lawmakers approved a landmark $1 billion annual voucher programme, setting aside more than $10,000 per student to attend accredited private schools. While initially capped, state projections estimate costs could balloon to $4.5 billion annually by 2030—significantly outpacing early investments. Elsewhere, Tennessee launched a $447 million plan, and although North Dakota's proposed programme was vetoed, Republican leadership made clear that private education funding remains a legislative priority. These moves underscore a national trend: Even as state revenues tighten, conservative lawmakers are prioritising expansive school choice measures. Costs escalate as universal eligibility broadens access Until recently, voucher programmes were narrowly focused on low-income or special-needs students. That model has largely been abandoned. Today, Republican-majority legislatures are removing income restrictions, allowing virtually all families to access taxpayer-funded scholarships and savings accounts. The financial ramifications are already visible. Florida's voucher programme will cost nearly $3.9 billion this year, siphoning off roughly one out of every thirteen dollars from the state's general fund. Arizona's programme now consumes close to 5% of its general revenue. Analyses indicate that Iowa, Ohio, and Oklahoma are also seeing voucher costs swell to more than 3% of their annual budgets, threatening to squeeze other critical public services. Economists warn that because many voucher recipients were already enrolled in private education before the subsidies, the programmes are driving up costs without significantly reducing public school burdens. Public education faces growing budgetary pressures As voucher programmes expand, traditional public schools are increasingly bearing the financial strain. In Ohio, recent budget proposals would deliver more funding increases to voucher programmes than to public schools beginning in 2026. Legislators also plan to claw back property taxes from districts, exacerbating resource gaps. Public education advocates argue that with 90% of students still enrolled in public schools, diverting funds without adequately supporting the existing system will have serious consequences. Similar concerns are surfacing in North Carolina, where GOP lawmakers are boosting voucher funding while approving more modest salary increases for public school teachers than proposed by the governor. Despite these tensions, efforts to scale back or pause voucher expansions—led mostly by Democratic governors and public education supporters—have struggled to gain traction in Republican-controlled legislatures. National push intensifies as fiscal warnings mount At the federal level, Congressional Republicans are advancing proposals to embed school choice initiatives into broader tax legislation. Proponents argue that such measures are crucial for educational freedom, but critics caution that voucher expansions will face stiff competition for funding against other Republican tax priorities, including cuts to Social Security benefits and overtime wages. Analysts from nonpartisan think tanks warn that layering ambitious voucher initiatives onto existing fiscal obligations could destabilise long-term state and federal budgets. Without significant offsets or new revenue sources, funding both public schools and expansive private education subsidies may prove unsustainable. Future of public funding at a crossroads The Republican-led charge to expand school vouchers marks a defining moment in American education policy. Supporters hail the shift as a necessary correction to a rigid public education monopoly, offering families greater freedom to choose their children's schooling. Yet critics warn that without careful fiscal stewardship, the surge in voucher spending could erode public education, exacerbate inequalities, and strain state finances for years to come. As more states deepen their commitment to school choice—even amid growing warnings about costs—the battle lines are sharpening over what the future of education funding in America will look like. Whether the bold expansion of private school subsidies proves visionary or reckless remains an open question—one that states may soon have to answer under tightening fiscal realities. For real-time updates, follow our AP SSC 10th Result 2025 Live Blog.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Measles outbreak confirmed in Ohio. Here's what you need to know
Ohio officially has a measles outbreak, the state health department announced Wednesday. The outbreak consists of 10 people in Ashtabula County, the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) said in a press release, nine of which are linked to an unvaccinated man reported last week as the state's first measles case of 2025. There is also a confirmed case in Knox County, where a "visitor" exposed others to measles in Knox and nearby counties. None of the individuals infected with the highly contagious disease were vaccinated. 'Given the measles activity in Texas, New Mexico, and other states around the country, we're disappointed but not surprised we now have several cases here in Ohio and known exposure in some counties,' said Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, ODH director. 'This disease can be very serious, even deadly, but it is almost entirely avoidable by being properly vaccinated. Measles is especially dangerous for young children, so I strongly urge all parents across Ohio to make sure your children are vaccinated. It is a crucial layer of protection that can save lives.' Previous coverage: Measles is getting closer to Ohio. Here's what you can do to protect you and yours Measles cases nationwide in 2025 have already surpassed 2024's total case count. The latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show 378 people in 18 states have been diagnosed with measles. The outbreaks are primarily in Texas and New Mexico. The CDC defines a measles outbreak as three or more related cases. Measles can spread quickly, and each case can lead to an additional 12 to 18 cases if people aren't protected against the disease. Local health officials warned that it was only a matter of time before measles reached Ohio, especially given Ohio's "alarming" decline in childhood vaccinations in the state. Vaccine rates for measles, mumps and rubella — commonly known as MMR shots — in kindergartners dropped in Ohio from 89.2% in the 2023-2024 school year to 88.3% in the current school year, according to ODH's recent school immunization report. This isn't Ohio's first outbreak in recent years. In 2022, Ohio had 90 measles cases, with 85 of those being in central Ohio. Medical business and health care reporter Samantha Hendrickson can be reached at shendrickson@ or @samanthajhendr on X, formerly known as twitter. This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ashtabula County, Ohio measles outbreak: What you need to know
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Bird flu ravages more than 10 million Ohio chickens in last 30 days, USDA reports
Roughly 10.3 million Ohio chickens have been impacted by bird flu in the last 30 days, making up more than a third of the national outbreak's recent victims as the disease continues to ravage livestock around the country. The birds affected have either died from the flu or have been infected. The infected chickens typically do not live longer than 48 hours after contracting the disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Ohio has been experiencing the highest levels of bird flu outbreaks in the nation, The Dispatch previously reported. Roughly 21.1 million birds in Ohio have been affected since the inception of the outbreaks in February 2022. That means nearly half of that number has come in the last month alone. A Feb. 7 U.S. Department of Agriculture report said Ohio has lost 39% of its egg-laying population to the bird flu. The H5N1 virus has also been detected in cattle in Ohio, and across the country, has reduced milk output and pushed up egg prices by wiping out millions of hens. More: Ohio leads bird flu cases. What will happen to egg prices? Can you raise your own chickens? On Wednesday, the Ohio Department of Health reported the first human case of bird flu in the state in a Mercer County man who works on a farm. He came into contact with infected dead poultry. Mercer County is located in west central Ohio along the border with Indiana. More: Ohio Department of Health reports first human case of bird flu in the state In Columbus, the outbreak prompted the Columbus Zoo on Feb. 1 to move certain birds indoors and to pause feeding raw poultry to their animals as a safety measure. Samantha Hendrickson is The Dispatch's medical business and health care reporter. She can be reached at shendrickson@ This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio loses more than 10 million chickens to bird flu in past month
