budgets

The N.C. Pre-K program has become the focus of a statewide debate over early education, but it represents only a portion of state taxpayer-funded pre-kindergarten classes.

Declining property taxes contributed to a $1.3 billion statewide cut to education last year, Republican Gov. Rick Scott’s first year in office.

The state Education Department used at least two undisclosed bank accounts as a slush fund for drinks, entertainment, travel and more at state education conferences, spending $2.3 million over the past 10 years, according to an investigative state audit released Wednesday.

We asked Michael Peveler of AMX.

Last year, as the Colorado budget was battered by the worst economy in generations, the Douglas County school district had to chop $36 million from its budget. So, among other things, it cut $2 million from administration, including several jobs. It continued charging students 50 cents each way to ride the bus. It eliminated 177 teaching positions.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy is proposing to spend $56.4 million in two initiatives that will boost the number of alternative schools and separately transform 25 of the lowest achieving schools in the next two years.