Portland School Board Recommends Upgrades to New Elementary

PORTLAND, Maine — In June 2015, Portland School Board member Marnie Morrione said the board needed commit to rebuilding Hall Elementary School. In December, the board did just that by recommending $1.3 million in additional local funding for the state-funded project. The issue will now go to the City Council, after passing a board vote on Dec. 8.

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National Public School Spending Up Slightly

WASHINGTON — Public school systems spent slightly more on students during 2013 versus 2012, according to data released in June by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Per-pupil spending for the nation reached $10,700 during fiscal year 2013, a 0.9 percent increase from 2012, but varied heavily from state to state.

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Maryland Education Advocates Pursue State Funding

ANAPOLIS, Md. — The Maryland State Education Association (MSEA) launched a new video and digital advertising campaign in May 2015 asking Marylanders to urge Gov. Larry Hogan to release $68 million in education funding included in the General Assembly’s passed budget.

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Pennsylvania Invests in School Safety

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Gov. Tom Corbett and Senator Joe Scarnati, R-Jefferson, have announced the award of $6.5 million in statewide school safety grants. The Pennsylvania lawmakers made the announcement at a May 6 press conference during which they discussed the importance of providing a safe learning environment for students.

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Connecticut Funds School Construction, Security

HARTFORD, Conn. — The Connecticut General Assembly recently passed a measure to funnel more than $522 million into statewide school construction and renovation projects. The bill, SB No. 475, was approved almost unanimously, with only two lawmakers opposing.

SB No. 475 authorizes the Department of Administrative Services commissioner to enter into grant commitments for 21 new school construction projects, totaling $180.7 million. It will also reauthorize and change grant commitments, due to cost and scope changes, for nine previously authorized projects.

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Education Program Expands in Louisiana

BATON ROUGE, La. — In order to achieve more consistent and unified early childhood education programming, the Louisiana Department of Education has moved to expand the state’s Early Childhood Network Pilot Program.

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Philadelphia Schools Move Toward Advertising in Schools

PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia school system is currently facing a budget shortfall of roughly $304 million. In October, this intimidating figure prompted two city council members to propose selling advertising space on the district’s buses and facilities as a way to help defray mounting operational costs.

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States Search for Higher Education Funding Solutions

WASHINGTON — Education funding has become a major topic in the presidential race, with both sides promising to preserve or even increase the resources dedicated to the cause, while budgeting to address the federal deficit. Despite this apparent consensus, most states are moving ahead with their own plans to find more stable funding streams and somehow lower the cost of attending college.

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