Friday News Roundup: Week of December 19-23

Texas schools grapple with big budget cuts

In-state University of New Hampshire system tuition set to go up again

Colorado Governor Hickenlooper wants to restore $89M for education

Michigan Governor Rick Snyder says school cuts may be over

Texas schools grapple with big budget cuts
State funding for Texas schools was cut by more than $4 billion in the 2012 school year, precipitating teacher and staff layoffs of over 12,000 employees and cuts to academic programs and transportation. To help school districts cope with the tight budgets, the state has offered waivers to around 7,000 schools statewide to raise class sizes. Next year, schools could see even deeper budget cuts. The cuts totaled around 6 percent this year; in fiscal year 2013, that number is expected to grow to between 8 and 9 percent. But in spite of the tough fiscal climate, the state has at least $5 billion in a rainy day fund which it has not yet used. The state is now embroiled in a lawsuit; more than 300 districts have sued to restore the funding and alter the state’s funding formula to ensure equity between poor and wealthy school districts. More here…

In-state University of New Hampshire system tuition set to go up again
Only a year after the University of New Hampshire system raised tuition after the tuition rate had already been set, students across the system will see tuition, fees, and room and board increased. A vote this week approved a tuition increase of about 6 percent at the University of New Hampshire, Keene State College, and Plymouth State University. Granite State College intends to raise tuition by around 3.6 percent per credit hour. All of the hikes will go before the board at its January 24 meeting for final approval. Out-of-state students will see a less dramatic increase in tuition because their tuition rates are already much higher than in-state students. UNH is also working to increase out-of-state enrollment from 45 to 50 percent of undergraduate students in order to raise additional tuition revenue for the schools. More here…

Colorado Governor Hickenlooper wants to restore $89M for education
Colorado economists altered projections they had made in September this week, revealing that state revenues will exceed expectations in fiscal year 2012 by $231 million. Governor John Hickenlooper proposed using the funds to restore the $89 million that had been cut from K-12 education to balance the fiscal year 2013 budget. Additionally, he suggested reducing cuts to higher education by half, from $60 million to $30 million. About $25 million of the restored higher education funding would be earmarked for financial aid. Experts in the statehouse predicted less of an increase in revenue over expectations than the governor’s staff, but said that restoring the funds for education would still be manageable. More here…

Michigan Governor Rick Snyder says school cuts may be over
Michigan Governor Rick Snyder stated this week that his fiscal year 2013 budget proposal would probably not include deeper cuts to public education. His fiscal year 2012 budget cut public school funding by about 2 percent (around $1 billion), and higher education institutions were cut by 15 percent. The cuts to higher education necessitated tuition hikes at many schools, often by almost 7 percent. However, the governor said that he does hope to link at least some K-12 public education funding to student achievement beginning next year;  the metrics to determine which districts would earn extra funding will be decided in conjunction with the state legislature. Governor Snyder will present his budget proposal in February, and lawmakers will begin work on it shortly thereafter. More here…