Friday News Roundup: Week of November 14-18

California budget cuts could shorten school year

Connecticut task force reviews ECS formula

College students in Nevada face more fee increases

Delaware State University, DelTech seek fund hike

Briefly Noted

California budget cuts could shorten school year
California revenue is rolling in at levels substantially below what the state anticipated in designing the fiscal year 2012 budget. To make up for the revenue shortfall, automatic spending cuts to California public schools could total up to $1.4 billion in the middle of the current 2012 school year. When the governor and legislature approved the state budget last year, they included a provision that triggered cuts to education should tax revenues be lower than anticipated. The dramatic spending reduction could force schools to cut the school year by seven days fewer than the current 175-day minimum for the state. The length of the school year was reduced by 5 days in 2009, bringing it below the national average of 180 days. As a result of a law passed earlier this year protecting education employees, school districts will have to negotiate with unions before cutting pay for teachers and staff with a shorter school year or laying off employees to save money. Alternatively, the state could try again to put a tax increase initiative on the ballot next November to help raise funds; plans to do so this year failed. More here…

Connecticut task force reviews ECS formula
Connecticut’s public schools are funded through an Education Cost Sharing (ECS) formula. In total, the formula divvies up about $1.9 billion to municipalities, with each school district guaranteed a piece of the pie. But as a result of various political agreements reached over the years, the formula is no longer strictly equitable. For example, although Hartford, CT and Bridgeport, CT have roughly equivalent poverty levels and Bridgeport is more populous, Hartford is afforded millions more annually. The formula uses decade-old census data, rather than state income taxes as many states do, to calculate personal wealth. Additionally, it factors in college students and prisoners as residents, inflating the populations of some towns. A task force is examining how the formula could be rejiggered to more accurately reflect the needs of school districts. The committee is charged with producing a preliminary report by January. More here…

College students in Nevada face more fee increases
At meeting of the Nevada Board of Regents to be held next month, Regents could decide to double the cost of attendance for students in the state’s higher education system compared to the cost six years ago. State budget cuts are driving the push to increase fees for the 2013 school year. At the meeting, Regents will consider fee increases of 5 percent, 8 percent, and 13 percent. If they reject the proposals, colleges and universities will be left to manage the consequences of state budget cuts. If the 13 percent hike is passed, fees for in-state, full-time undergraduate students will top $6,000 in 2013, not including room and board or the cost of books. Graduate student fees are exempt from the proposal, largely because graduate student enrollment has dropped significantly, which according to some is a result of excessively high graduate tuition. More here…

Delaware State University, DelTech seek fund hike
In hearings held by the Delaware Office of Management and Budget, Delaware State University and Delaware Technical Community College, officials asked for state funding bumps in the 2013 fiscal year. The president of DSU asked for a $7.1 million increase; of that, $1 million would cover the cost of a 2 percent raise for state employees made earlier this year, $2.85 million would plug the hole for expired federal stimulus funds, and $1.82 million would provide salary increases for university staff. Wage studies conducted recently concluded that DSU faculty are underpaid, according to one DSU official. The funds replacing the stimulus monies would be used to provide additional financial aid to students. Delaware Tech asked for a more modest $692,000 increase, which would fund positions for student advisers and curriculum development. For capital repairs and upgrades, DSU requested $11.35 million and Delaware Tech an additional $13.4 million. Although both schools’ officials acknowledge the fiscal constraints facing the state, they made the case that the recession has hit the schools hard, jeopardizing their ability to support students. The proposals will be considered by state budget analysts, who will recommend a budget to the governor ahead of the legislature’s vote next June. More here…

Briefly Noted
A bill passed by the Ohio legislature and awaiting Governor John Kasich’s signature would expand the definition of tax-exempt expenses to include room, board, and meal plans at institutions of higher education, meaning that Ohio recipients of Pell grant and Ohio College Opportunity funds could use the money to cover those costs. More here…