With some top state leaders warning that Texas’ dire fiscal situation will lead to the loss of several thousand state jobs, House budget writers will release their first draft budget today. As Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune reports, big job cuts may be just the beginning.
school finance
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Public Education
TribBlog: Doggett Pops Perry on Education
On the letters page of Wednesday’s New York Times, U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, slams Gov. Rick Perry for failing to take $830 million in federal money that Perry and other Republicans complained had strings attached but that Doggett says would have prevented “anti-education ‘smoke and mirrors’ budgeting” by the state.
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Public Education
Parents Help School Officials Cut Budget
The Austin Independent School District says it will need to cut tens of millions of dollars from its budget over the next several years — and it wants local parents to help figure out where to start the trimming. Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune reports.
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Economy
The Efficiency Experts
“Efficiency” is the buzzword heading into the 2011 legislative session. Lawmakers say they want to make sure the dollars spent on K-12 education are being spent as efficiently as possible — and that anything deemed inefficient could end up the chopping block. Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune reports.
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Economy
The Efficiency Experts
“Efficiency” is the buzzword heading into the 2011 legislative session. Lawmakers say they want to make sure the dollars spent on K-12 education are being spent as efficiently as possible — and that anything deemed inefficient could end up the chopping block. Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune reports.
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Politics
Cutting School
The Texas Education Agency has submitted a proposal to slash 10 percent of its budget to help close the state’s coming shortfall, which could be as much as $21 billion. Among the items on the chopping block: outside-the-classroom expenditures that, Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune reports, could have a dramatic affect on student outcomes.
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Politics
Beyond the Bake Sale
With or without the controversial federal education funding that would come with Texas-specific strings attached, many of the state’s school districts are preparing for tough budgetary times ahead — and they’re getting creative about potential solutions. Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune reports.
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Economy
Every Doggett Has His Day
The U.S. House has passed a bill on Tuesday that is expected to send about $800 million to bolster the state’s education budget. But thanks to an amendment added by U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, the funding comes with Texas-specific strings attached. Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune has this report.
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Higher Education
Skipping the Beach
Members of the UT-Austin University Democrats said goodbye to a Spring Break filled with fun in the sun… and hello to the vacant stares of congressional staffers today.
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Public Education
Race to the Bottom Line
The feds want Texas to sign onto a movement toward national education standards in order to get up to $700 million in “Race to the Top” money. Texas officials say our students —and our curriculum — aren’t for sale.