Friday News Roundup: Week of February 14-18

UW-Madison could see hefty tuition increase because of budget cuts

Maine schools face loss of state funding

Delaware governor proposes raise for teachers in state budget

Connecticut Governor proposes budget that would preserve state education aid for towns

UW-Madison could see hefty tuition increase because of budget cuts
Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker recently proposed a plan that would allow the University of Wisconsin – Madison more independence from state regulations. This flexibility would allow the university to by-pass some state controls like tuition limitations and cooperative purchasing agreements. In exchange, the institution would face a $50 million cut in state funding. The university would need to raise tuition by 26 percent over the next two years to make up for the funding cut. However, Chancellor Biddy Martin hopes to hold tuition increases to 20 percent and make up for the rest of the difference with savings and fundraising. Other UW campuses hope to be afforded the same flexibility, but Governor Walker believes that this will have to happen slowly over time. More here…

Maine schools face loss of state funding
Earlier this week, the Maine Department of Education released preliminary numbers on school district funding allocations for the 2011-12 school year. Some school districts in Maine could be facing up to a 20 percent cut in state and federal funding from 2010-11 levels, while others may see small increases. The cuts are primarily due to a “funding cliff” that will result when federal stimulus funds under the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund run out at the end of fiscal year 2011. These federal funds have been propping up Maine’s education funding since fiscal year 2009. Though Maine Governor Paul LePage provided an additional $22 million in state school aid for 2011-12, it is not enough to make up for losses in the federal stimulus funds. As a result of these cuts, many district leaders will have to make difficult budgeting decisions to make ends meet. More here…

Delaware governor proposes raise for teachers in state budget
Delaware Governor Jack Markell recently proposed a budget plan that would provide $7.5 million to raise salaries for classroom teachers and some aides. The plan, however, would not provide raises for other school staff including janitors and administrators. Representatives from teacher and administrator unions believe that singling out teachers for raises will cause problems within schools. The state is also facing budget cuts due to the funding cliff created by the end of $30 million in federal State Fiscal Stabilization Funds the state previously received. Though $27.4 million in federal Education Jobs Funds will make up some of the difference, some schools districts will still see cuts due to the way the funds will be distributed. More here…

Connecticut Governor proposes budget that would preserve state education aid for towns
Earlier this week, Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy proposed a state budget that would maintain state education funding at current 2011 levels and expand funding for school choice and preschool. Education funding would stay at $1.9 billion and Malloy hopes to develop a more sustainable education funding formula by October. The plan would also provide an additional $1.7 million over two years to expand preschool options towards the goal of providing universal preschool. Finally, the budget includes $2 million to create a new teacher accountability system and reform teacher tenure practices. More here…

Briefly Noted

Indiana House Budget Committee proposes plan to continue $300 million annual education funding cut through 2013.