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Adequacy
Trial Begins in Alaska, Oral Arguments in
New York, Preliminary Hearing in Georgia
In
the past two weeks, three education finance
adequacy litigations reached major milestones
when trial proceedings began in Alaska’s
Moore v. State case, New York’s
highest court heard oral arguments in Campaign
for Fiscal Equity v. State for the
third time, and attorneys in Georgia’s
Consortium for Adequate School Funding
v. State case argued at a pretrial
hearing. Read
Full Story |
| Out-of-State
Money Funds “Local” Pro-Voucher
Political Action Groups
As
the 2006 midterm elections approach, pro-school
voucher political action committees have
become a prominent force in some states.
These well-funded PACs are national organizations
or local organizations funded by out-of-state
donors, targeting anti-voucher state elected
officials for defeat and supporting pro-voucher
candidates. Read
Full Story |
| Rebell
Argues for More “Professional Rigor”
in Cost Studies
Examining
the methodologies used in costing-out studies
and how they can be improved, Michael A.
Rebell, executive director of the national
Access network, has published a detailed
judicial and academic analysis of studies
that estimate the cost of an adequate education.
The article, “Professional Rigor,
Public Engagement and Judicial Review: A
Proposal for Enhancing the Validity of Education
Adequacy Studies” appears in this
month’s Teachers College Record.
Those who oppose cost studies and claim
“money doesn’t matter”
in education, having lost their argument
in 29 of 30 courts, have turned to the court
of public opinion to argue against adequate
school funding and the conducting of cost
studies. Read
Full Story
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From
Statehouse to Courthouse, Preschool Gaining
Ground
As
the nation enters the final leg of the 2006
election season, early childhood education
is being discussed by candidates in state
elections across the country. The emphasis
on preschool comes from momentum that preschool
advocates have been building for years,
based on well-established research showing
a “readiness gap” between low-income
and high-income children before they even
enter school. Research also demonstrates
that early childhood education offers one
of the most effective and efficient ways
to narrow the achievement gap. From statehouse
proposals to courthouse decrees, preschool
is gaining ground. Read
Full Story
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| Reader
Response: Decentralization Requires Serious
Consideration
Barry McGhan, President of
the Center for Public Schools Renewal, responds
to last month's editorial, "100%
Solution” Fails the Test"
Dear
Mr. Rebell:
Your
recent Access editorial about the Fordham
Institute’s Fund The Child
position paper expresses some valid concerns
about weighted student funding (WSF). However,
we believe there are worthwhile reasons
for giving the Fordham proposal a wide hearing.
Read
Full Story
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| Advocacy
Groups and Local Officials Declare “Act
for Education Month”
In
the lead-up to oral arguments in the appeal
of Campaign for Fiscal Equity v. State
in the New York Court of Appeals on October
10, the Campaign for Fiscal Equity and the
Alliance for Quality Education declared
“Act for Education Month.” This
month-long series of events seeks to remind
the public that many of New York’s
schools are not up to constitutional standards,
and to encourage their advocacy and action
to ensure that lawmakers fund all schools
at adequate levels. Read
Full Story
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