A House panel next week will take up a proposal that would ask voters to place eight-year term limits on county school board members. If approved by Florida lawmakers during the spring session, the measure would go on the 2020 ballot because it is a proposed constitutional amendment.
North Carolina Senate Republicans are putting up a pay-as-you-go plan for school construction as an alternative to another proposed $1.9 billion bond. The method would use money from the new State Capital Infrastructure Fund, which is set to receive 4 percent of state tax revenue and other money, for repairs and renovations.
Gov. Ron DeSantis is considering suspending Broward School Board members over the Parkland shooting. Although he does not think he has the authority to suspend the appointed superintendent, DeSantis is exploring whether he could take action with regard to members of the school board.
A bill that would have authorized a Virginia state referendum, asking voters if they support a $3 billion bond issue for school construction and repairs, was rejected, while North Carolina senators say their new plan would raise $2 billion for school construction in the state.
Legislation that would move up when the state superintendent of public instruction becomes an appointed position, rather than elected, passed the Indiana House with the new deadline of 2021. The original law, passed in 2017, had changed the position to an appointment by the governor in 2025.
Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen joined lawmakers in support of a bill saying students cannot give consent for sexual relationships with school employees. It would prohibit any elementary or secondary school student from giving consent to a school employee, contractor or volunteer.
Under the proposal, the state's 48 individual school districts would shoulder the responsibility of building new schools as state leaders continue to search for a way to fill the funding gap left by the loss of coal lease bonuses.
Top Texas lawmakers this year are proposing allocating billions of more dollars for public schools, but a portion of those dollars will likely have strings attached. And some education advocates worry the strings will lead to an even greater emphasis being placed on standardized tests in the state.
The House Education Committee voted to pass a bill that would provide more than $1.6 billion in state funding to Montana schools over the next two years—including money to keep up with inflation, an increase of $68 million. The committee's approval is just the first step in what is expected to be a four-month legislative process.
Gov. Brian Kemp unveiled plans to devote $69 million in one-time funds for school security grants. The school safety plan will include $30,000 for each of the state's 2,294 public schools. Gov. Kemp also wants to put a mental health counselor in all 343 state public high schools.
