Friday News Roundup: Week of April 16-20

Florida Gov. Rick Scott signs $70 billion state budget bill

Mississippi college tuition could grow by 14 percent

Idaho state Board of Education OKs tuition hikes

Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal signs education bills that tweak state funding

Florida Gov. Rick Scott signs $70 billion state budget bill
Florida’s fiscal year 2013 budget, signed into law this week, adds an additional $1 billion for public K-12 schools over 2012 levels. This $1 billion will go towards covering the cost of over 30,000 new students and to fill the shortfall caused by reduced local revenue and the expiration of the ARRA (stimulus) funds. Despite the additional funds, K-12 education funding levels will still be $300 million less than 2012 levels, and much lower than 2008 levels – the state has cut education spending each year since then.  In addition to increases in K-12 education funding, though, the state cuts higher education funding for colleges and universities by $300 million from 2012 levels. The budget increases tuition rates at public postsecondary institutions by 5 percent from the 2011-2012 school year to help cover those cuts. According to Scott’s budget, schools will independently increase tuition by the maximum allowable amount – 15 percent – while maintaining the per-credit fees currently in place. Of concern is that Scott simultaneously denounces any tuition hike over 5 percent and at the same time assumes a 15 percent increase in his budget. More here…

Mississippi college tuition could grow by 14 percent
The Mississippi College Board held a preliminary vote this week to approve a 14 percent tuition hike for public colleges and universities over the next two years. If the bill passes, in 2013 students will pay about $5,800 (an average of $383 over 2012 levels), and approximately $6,200 in 2014.  Average out-of-state tuition will also increase by $1,139 in 2013. These increases are on top of a 7 percent tuition hike in the 2011-2012 school year. Schools say the tuition hike is necessary to make up for declining state funding. Additionally, beginning in fiscal year 2013,  a new law takes effect that will allow colleges or universities to waive out-of-state tuition in favor of in-state tuition for students outside Mississippi, potentially reducing schools’ tuition revenue. The Board’s final vote will be May 7. More here…

Idaho state Board of Education OKs tuition hikes
Idaho’s state Board of Education this week approved tuition increases for public colleges and universities, though the hikes were less than have been approved for schools in recent years. Tuition will be increased even though the state’s fiscal year 2013 state budget provides an 8.6 percent increase for higher education over 2012 levels. Increases for all but two of the schools – University of Idaho in Moscow and Boise State University – were unanimous, and those two passed on a 5-2 vote. Board members say the increases are needed because schools are still recovering from previous years’ spending cuts and struggling to cover the costs of educating undergraduate students. Board members also noted that the schools still provide a good value to students relative to schools with similar tuition levels. Furthermore, school officials said that they will need these funds to retain faculty and provide a variety of course offerings to students. More here…

Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal signs education bills that tweak state funding
Georgia Governor Nathan Deal this week signed a series of bills into law that will tweak the Quality Basic Education funding formula that has been in place for the last 20 years. According to Deal, the goal of the new system is ultimately to base funding levels on student achievement rather than on school enrollments, though not all of the bills dealt with this issue. The legislative changes were largely based on the preliminary recommendations of an education finance commission appointed last summer. One measure passed by the legislature will have schools evaluated by student performance, a provision also included in the state’s No Child Left Behind waiver application. Another bill signed into law will increase funding for the highest-poverty school districts. Although the legislature approved some of the commission’s recommendations, it did not approve one recommendation to repeal a law that requires districts to spend at least 65 percent of their funds on classroom expenses including teacher salaries and curriculum materials. The commission’s final recommendations will be submitted by this September. More here…