Posts Categorized: Schools

DC Shuttle: Gridlocked Congress Considers Schools Reauthorization, Private Gift to Keep Head Start Going

Calls for action on ESEA. Education Secretary Arne Duncan on Monday called for action on a long-overdue overhaul of the elementary and secondary school law, contending that Congress has "failed to carry out its basic core responsibilities on education." The last reauthorization of the law, known as No Child Left Behind, expired in 2007 and has been criticized by both parties as requiring unachieva...

Deadline Extended! STEM Problem-Based Learning Opportunity for Educators

In fall 2012, the New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE) was awarded a three-year $900,000 grant from the National Science Foundation's Advanced Technological Education program for a project titled Advanced Manufacturing Problem Based Learning (AM PBL). The project aims to improve science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education in New England by developing interdisciplinary probl...

More Comings and Goings: Dartmouth Academic Named Vt Ed Chief; former Skidmore Prez Takes US Under Secy Post

Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin named Rebecca Holcombe, current director of the Dartmouth Teacher Education Program in Hanover, N.H., to lead Vermont's Agency of Education, starting in January. Before going to Dartmouth. Holcombe was a principal at Fairlee School in Vermont and a social studies and science teacher at the Frances C. Richmond School in Hanover, N.H. The governor’s office took over ...

DC Shuttle: Washington Moves on Higher Ed Reauthorization, Common Core Assessments

Congress considers renewal of the Higher Education Act. Momentum is slowly building to reauthorize the Higher Education Act (HEA) with college costs and student debt under bipartisan scrutiny. The most recent reauthorization of the HEA passed in 2008 and expires in 2014. On Thursday, the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee held a hearing on reauthorization. It is the first of 12 hearin...

NE’s 2013 Legislative Sessions: Massachusetts

Passage of a budget for FY14 was complicated by action taken on a $1.9 billion transportation bill filed by Gov. Deval Patrick to fund transportation projects and increase funding for education. Lawmakers rejected Patrick’s $1.9 billion request for new taxes and sent back a bill with $500 million in new taxes including a 3-cent hike in the gas tax. Patrick subsequently vetoed the bill admoni...

NE’s 2013 Legislative Sessions: Maine

Maine lawmakers averted a government shutdown, overriding Gov. Paul LePage’s veto of the budget for FY14 and FY15. Both branches exceeded the required two-thirds vote, with the House voting 114–34 in support of the override, and the Senate voting 26-9 in support. While Democrats won the budget battle in rejecting LePage’s budget plan, they lost a number of battles including a mo...

NE’s 2013 Legislative Sessions: New Hampshire

Granite State lawmakers on June 26 approved a $10.7 billion two-year budget with bipartisan support. Members of the Senate, which is controlled by Republicans, unanimously supported the budget, while more than 300 of the 400-member Democrat-controlled House approved the spending package. Bipartisan agreement on the two-year plan was bolstered by growth in March and April tax revenues, which gener...

NE’s 2013 Legislative Sessions: Rhode Island

Lawmakers passed a budget totaling $8.2 billion with no new fees or taxes and worked to address the state’s ailing business climate by providing structural changes and government reforms. Gov. Lincoln Chafee opposed the structural changes, but let the bill become law without his signature. The budget provides for: payment of $2.5 million related to the state-supported bonds of baseball st...

NE’s 2013 Legislative Sessions: Connecticut

The school shootings in Newtown dominated the beginning of the 2013 legislative session. Lawmakers passed a bipartisan gun violence prevention bill, the toughest in the nation. The legislation further restricts the use of assault weapons and imposes more background checks and restrictions on the sale of high-capacity magazine clips. In addition, both branches of the General Assembly adopted a free...

NE’s 2013 Legislative Sessions: Vermont

NEJHE will report on new education-related laws and other legislative highlights from each New England statehouse, starting with Vermont ... On May 14, Vermont lawmakers wrapped up their session by passing a $5.2 billion budget for FY14. House and Senate proposals to changes in the income tax fell by the wayside as did proposed increases in taxes on bottled water, soft drinks, candy, dietary su...