Latest news with #publicschools
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Education 'reforms' failed. Teaching practices key to boosting Wisconsin schools
In the May 15 edition of the Journal Sentinel, there was an article, 'Teaching practices a key to success, panel says,' by Alan Borsuk, through the Marquette University Law School. This article succulently highlighted the issues in improving public school engagement and achievement while totally leaving out the simplistic, unproductive 'reform' approaches that are most often promoted for the last three decades. Robert Pondiscio, conservative senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, stated, 'We continue to chase silver bullets, new policies, new programs instead of helping the teachers we have be better at their jobs.' The article discussed several very good concepts which need to be explored by the media, especially the Journal Sentinel, instead of chronic reporting of statistical underachievement in public schools and the illusion that choice is somehow superior, even though reporting information is intentionally very limited. Dick Marx, Whitefish Bay Letters: Endless school referendums show why public schools suffer from lack of funding Opinion: Wisconsin is failing to fund education. State budget must make this right Here are some tips to get your views shared with your friends, family, neighbors and across our state: Please include your name, street address and daytime phone. Generally, we limit letters to 200 words. Cite sources of where you found information or the article that prompted your letter. Be civil and constructive, especially when criticizing. Avoid ad hominem attacks, take issue with a position, not a person. We cannot acknowledge receipt of submissions. We don't publish poetry, anonymous or open letters. Each writer is limited to one published letter every two months. All letters are subject to editing. Write: Letters to the editor, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 330 E. Kilbourn Avenue, Suite 500, Milwaukee, WI, 53202. Fax: (414)-223-5444. E-mail: jsedit@ or submit using the form that can be found on the on the bottom of this page. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: New concepts for improving public schools should be explored | Letters
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Education 'reforms' failed. Teaching practices key to boosting Wisconsin schools
In the May 15 edition of the Journal Sentinel, there was an article, 'Teaching practices a key to success, panel says,' by Alan Borsuk, through the Marquette University Law School. This article succulently highlighted the issues in improving public school engagement and achievement while totally leaving out the simplistic, unproductive 'reform' approaches that are most often promoted for the last three decades. Robert Pondiscio, conservative senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, stated, 'We continue to chase silver bullets, new policies, new programs instead of helping the teachers we have be better at their jobs.' The article discussed several very good concepts which need to be explored by the media, especially the Journal Sentinel, instead of chronic reporting of statistical underachievement in public schools and the illusion that choice is somehow superior, even though reporting information is intentionally very limited. Dick Marx, Whitefish Bay Letters: Endless school referendums show why public schools suffer from lack of funding Opinion: Wisconsin is failing to fund education. State budget must make this right Here are some tips to get your views shared with your friends, family, neighbors and across our state: Please include your name, street address and daytime phone. Generally, we limit letters to 200 words. Cite sources of where you found information or the article that prompted your letter. Be civil and constructive, especially when criticizing. Avoid ad hominem attacks, take issue with a position, not a person. We cannot acknowledge receipt of submissions. We don't publish poetry, anonymous or open letters. Each writer is limited to one published letter every two months. All letters are subject to editing. Write: Letters to the editor, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 330 E. Kilbourn Avenue, Suite 500, Milwaukee, WI, 53202. Fax: (414)-223-5444. E-mail: jsedit@ or submit using the form that can be found on the on the bottom of this page. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: New concepts for improving public schools should be explored | Letters
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Brooklyn's Dumbo Drop raises over $100K for local schools
DUMBO, Brooklyn (PIX11) – It's a novel way to raise money for local public schools in one Brooklyn neighborhood. They are tossing toy elephants from the rooftops. More Local News Have you ever wondered what 2500 toy elephants with parachutes look like floating down to the ground? You can find out at the eighth annual Dumbo Drop to raise money for two local, title one, public schools in the neighborhood. PIX11 News got this exclusive birds-eye view from a Washington Street rooftop, and this PIX11 reporter even got to toss a few elephants herself. 'We have wonderful public schools in the neighborhood, and they are Title One schools,' Alexandria Sica, Pres. Dumbo BID, told PIX11 News. 'We wanted to do a fundraiser on Washington Street with tiny toy elephants floating through the air,' she added. This Dumbo drop has raised more than $100,000 to help support students at PS 307 and Dock Street middle school, two neighborhood public schools where the majority of the children live at or below the poverty line. 'At a Title One school, we have some folks and families that need help,' Ryan Porter, PTA PS 307 treasurer, told PIX11 News. 'So the funds will go to after-school programs and educational programs,' he added. These elephants with parachutes cost $20 to be part of the fundraiser, but there's also a totally free kid zone, including a book giveaway from Brooklyn Book Bodega. 'I think it's great for people who don't have books, and we're giving back to the community,' Imogen Fontalvo, 8 years old, told PIX11 News. Francis Peter and his family were losing under a neon Dumbo sign. 'It's super crowded and there are lots of activities for the kids to do,' Peter told PIX11 News. The Dock Street Sharks performed, as did the all-female drummers known as Fogo Azul and a band called The Jelly. And so many happy children left with armfuls of elephants. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
ABC News
2 days ago
- Business
- ABC News
Victorian teachers plan to escalate their fight for more government funding of state schools
Victorian teachers are considering mass rallies targeting the premier, education minister and treasurer in response to what they say is massive underfunding of public schools. Earlier this month, Nine newspapers claimed the government had ripped $2.4 billion from school budgets by delaying its commitment to the Gonski education reforms by three years. The Age reported the savings were signed off by the premier. Jacinta Allan denied her government had withdrawn from its Gonski funding commitment. The Australian Education Union Victorian branch has written to all state school teachers outlining plans to escalate their campaign for better funding, including asking parents to join in mass emails to Ms Allan and Education Minister Ben Carroll, as well as public rallies. Branch president Justin Mullaly said those rallies would be outside school hours and would target the offices of Ms Allan and Mr Carroll, as well as Treasurer Jaclyn Symes. "The government has been duplicitous," Mr Mullaly said. "On the one hand they say that they are promoting the education state and that they're going to fully fund public schools, yet they're not actually planning at all on delivering the money for that." Mr Mullaly said the rallies would also target other senior MPs, but no dates had been set for the action. "We don't do this lightly; we don't engage in activities like this just at the drop of a hat," he said. "This is in response to a complete failure of the state government to deliver the funding the students in our schools need and to provide the resources that teachers, principals and education staff support need." The government said Victoria signed an agreement with the federal government in January that would secure 100 per cent of the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS) for Victorian government schools by 2034. "Our priority is — and has always been — that every child, no matter where they live, has access to a world-class education for free in a Victorian government school backed by full and fair funding," Mr Carroll said. He said the state government would provide 75 per cent of the SRS, which would see increased funding in stages during the term of the agreement. "The Victorian government is currently finalising these discussions with the Commonwealth," Mr Carroll said. "I will not be negotiating with the Commonwealth through the media."
Associated Press
3 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Texas Legislature approves $8.5 billion boost for public schools after years of stagnant funding
The Texas House on Thursday gave the final stamp of approval to legislation authorizing roughly $8.5 billion in funding for public schools, sending the bill to Gov. Greg Abbott 's desk where it is soon expected to become law. Final passage of House Bill 2, which will give schools additional money for teacher and staff salaries, educator preparation, special education, safety requirements and early childhood learning, comes on the heels of extensive negotiations between the House and Senate over how the final version of the bill would look. Abbott has already said he intends to sign the bill, a notable difference from two years ago when he and the Legislature withheld billions from public schools following a failed attempt to create a private school voucher program. This year, lawmakers vowed to approve vouchers and new public school funding in tandem. The Legislature finalized the education finance package on a 122-13 vote nearly a month after vouchers officially became law. The new dollars in HB 2 will allow school districts to begin making a dent in some of their long-standing challenges — a laundry list of items that includes reversing budget deficits, providing raises to full-time employees and keeping up with rising operational costs. Before the legislation's final passage on Thursday, Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin, raised questions about the bill, underscoring that public schools' dire situation is partly the result of stagnant funding since 2019, the year lawmakers last raised schools' base dollars and passed a comprehensive education finance package. He sought to have Republican Rep. Brad Buckley of Salado, the bill sponsor, answer why the Republican-led Legislature has not passed major school funding legislation since then, including last session when the state had a historic $32.7 billion budget surplus at its disposal. The House public education chair only had a few moments to answer the question before lawmakers' speaking time expired, but his response instead focused on HB 2's investments in the basic costs of running a school and paying teachers what they deserve. HB 2 will provide districts with a $55 per-student increase to their base funding — a number short of the $395 per student hike proposed by the House earlier in the session and far less than the roughly $1,300 school officials said they needed to keep up with inflation. That base funding, known as the basic allotment, provides districts the most flexibility to address the range of needs on their campuses, from salaries and maintenance to instructional materials and athletics. The bill raises educator pay, which represents more than $4 billion of the proposal's overall funding. To do so, it dictates: HB 2 also includes funding for an expansion of the Teacher Incentive Allotment, a state program that awards raises to educators who demonstrate that they have improved their students' academic outcomes — currently about 6% of teachers. In place of a significant boost to the basic allotment, the bill will give districts $45 per student that they can only use to increase the salaries of school counselors, librarians, nurses and other support staff. The bill also grants schools $106 per student to pay costs associated with transportation, insurance, utilities and hiring retired educators, which has become more common as schools struggle to fill teacher vacancies. Furthermore, the legislation will overhaul Texas' special education funding system to account for the individual needs of each student; establish a compensation system for educator preparation and mentorship programs; set aside money for schools to better identify learning difficulties among the state's youngest students and fund prekindergarten services; and increase the money districts receive for safety upgrades. ___ This story was originally published by The Texas Tribune and distributed through a partnership with The Associated Press.
