Friday News Roundup: Week of January 10-14

At Ed Money Watch, we discuss and analyze major issues affecting education funding. In our Friday News Roundup, we try to highlight interesting stories that might otherwise get overlooked. These stories emphasize how federal and state policy changes can affect local schools and districts.

Missouri Governor Restores Education Funds, Increases Scholarship Maximums

Kansas Governor’s Spending Plan Would Mean Cuts for School Funding

Indiana Colleges and Universities Brace for More Cuts

Missouri Governor Restores Education Funds, Increases Scholarship Maximums
Missouri Governor Jay Nixon this week announced a $7.5 million increase in state funding for school transportation costs in the current 2011 fiscal year. Stronger than expected state revenues allowed Governor Nixon to restore a portion of the $70 million in transportation aid to districts that was cut in fiscal year 2010 to balance the state budget. Districts are free to begin using funds immediately to restore canceled bus routes or other programs that were cut to free up funds for transportation costs. Separately, Governor Nixon also announced this week that maximum awards for the Access Missouri college scholarship program will increase for the spring semester. Maximum awards will rise from $275 to $470 per year for students attending community colleges, from $950 to $1,010 for students attending public four-year institutions, and from $1,900 to $2,160 for students attending private universities. More here…

Kansas Governor’s Spending Plan Would Mean Cuts for School Funding
Kansas Governor Sam Brownback proposed a fiscal year 2012 budget that would cut base per pupil state funding for K-12 education. Much of the current $550 million hole in the state’s budget was created by expiring federal funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which Governor Brownback says the state cannot afford to replace. As a result, he has proposed cutting base per pupil aid by $232 to $3,780. This would represent the lowest level of base state aid for schools since the 1999-2000 school year. Although base per pupil funding will decrease, the governor’s plan does include increases for the state retirement system, special education, and debt payments for capital projects. Governor Brownback’s budget would also cut the Early Childhood Head Start Program by $3.5 million. More here and here…

Indiana Colleges and Universities Brace for More Cuts
Under a budget plan released this week by Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels, the state’s colleges and universities could face a 3 percent annual cut in state aid in the coming 2012-13 fiscal biennium. Most state agencies, including K-12 education, have seen reductions in funding since the state passed its most recent budget. Governor Daniels’ plan would not restore the cut funds to these agencies, but would hold spending at current levels over the coming two years. However, institutions of higher education face a reduction of $37 million per year on top of the 6 percent annual cut they faced in the last fiscal biennium. More here…

Briefly Noted

• New Jersey Supreme Court requests “special master” to gather information on legality of Governor Christie’s cuts to state education aid.