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Educators concerned about new rounds of cuts

This article shows how too many of our legislators think-that schools have plenty of funding and the ALEC agenda reforms are what we need, while Goddard Superintendent Justin Henry says, “Four years ago, we took some steps across our district to respond to the recession.”…Like many districts, Goddard cut programs, increased class sizes, shortened the school year, pulled down cash reserves, continued charging for full-day kindergarten and raised fees, some significantly. Goddard’s technology fee for seventh- through 12th-graders in 2011, for example, was $25 a year; in 2012, it went up to $95 a year. “‘Now we’re probably...
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PA education advocates oust governor

Pennsylvania just ousted their anti-public education governor. Here’s how an education activist explains their success. “[W]hat really dogged Corbett was – us! Ordinary parents, students, teachers, and community members refused to let this issue go. We wrote letters to the editor, op-eds, and blog pieces; we staged rallies and demonstrations; we held mock-bake sales; we wrote petitions and got on buses to Harrisburg to deliver thousands of signatures; we hosted public debates, lectures, and national authors. With ‘dogged’ determination, we took every opportunity to counter Corbett’s attempts to minimize the damage he was inflicting on our schools: we...
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Business Week reports on strain in KS schools

“To cope, 62 superintendents are doing double duty. Duane Dorshorst serves as both superintendent and an elementary school principal at the 370-student Oberlin Unified School District 294 in northwestern Kansas. “’I haven’t been able to give my staff a raise in three years,’ he said. ‘It’s harder to attract people, especially good-quality teachers, when the deficit is already there.’ “A drop in state aid also meant tough choices for Smoky Valley Superintendent Glen Suppes, who froze and then reduced teacher salaries, did away with field trips, required parents to pay a half-day of kindergarten, cut coaches and tightened...
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