June 25, 2012 3:50 PM HK: DEWHURST IN FULL BATTLE MODE FOR CRUZ RUNOFFIn some ways, Dewhurst campaign has morphed into Rick Perry Campaign for David Dewhurst Whether it is simply a matter of covering all bases or the polling shows Lite Guv David Dewhurst in trouble, Team Perry has become fully engaged. |
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June 25, 2012 3:24 PM WITH NCLB CAUGHT IN CONGRESSIONAL GRIDLOCK, FEDERAL SCHOOL FUNDs SUBJECT TO PIECEMEAL REAUTHORIZATIONSTexas stand off with Department of Education could have budgetary consequences for next session A
leading education lobbyist on Capitol Hill has called both the existing No
Child Left Behind Act and federal school progress
ratings “done done and done” during a session with
charter school leaders in Minneapolis last week. The current federal
education law, birthed as the Texas accountability system in the 90s under then
Governor George W. Bush, could soon be gone. And if it is on its way out -- and
Texas continues to play hardball with Education Secretary Arne Duncan -- Texas
could lose out on federal funding. For most school
districts, federal funds account for about 10 percent of the overall budget(The Texas Education Agency adds it up as not quite $2 billion a year).
But since current funding is by program, those funding losses could have a
greater impact on school district with big populations of economically disadvantaged
students or those with mental or physical limitations. Vic Klatt, who now leads a bipartisan team
at the Penn Hill Group, worked as a key education staffer on Capitol
Hill and in the Department of Education during Pres. George W Bush’s administration. He told a group of charter
leaders that Congress is in the middle of complete and utter gridlock. “No
Child Left Behind has no support on the Republican
side. It has no support among the Democrats. It is done, writ large, as an entire bill,” Klatt
told attendees at the annual conference of the National Alliance of Public
Charter Schools. “For those of you who operate under AYP, it’s also
done, done, done.” AYP is
adequate yearly progress, the federally set yardstick that notes satisfactory
progress for schools each year. The House and Senate education committees have
differed on revising the definition, with the Senate tossing out the measure in
favor what is known as “continuous improvement.” Revisions
can’t wait. States are up against a hard NCLB deadline for 100 percent
proficiency on state tests two years from now. In response, Education Secretary
Arne Duncan has offered waivers,
negotiated state-by-state, that give discretion in return for adhering to
Duncan’s priorities and initiatives. So
far, Texas has declined to seek a waiver. Education Commissioner Robert Scott has called Duncan’s
waivers federal overreach. Still, more than 30 states are expected to sign
waiver requests this year, putting Texas in a precarious position of failing to
meet federal standards by refusing to sign onto the “voluntary” measures of Race
to the Top. The rest of the story, subscribers only By Kimberly Reeves |
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June 25, 2012 10:31 AM BUSY DAY AT SUPREME COURT DESPITE NO DECISION ON FEDERAL HEALTH CARE CHALLENGEBig decisions on constitutionality of Arizona immigration law, Montana prohibitions on corporate spending in elections and mandatory life without parole for juveniles No health care decision today but the U.S. Supreme Court handed down three other significant rulings this morning. At the end of today’s session, the Court announced one more day of opinions, meaning the health care decision will happen Thursday morning. Here’s a quick summary of the Court’s action today: --- In the Arizona immigration case, the Court ruled that 3 provisions of SB 1070 that conflicted with federal immigration law were preempted and threw them out. Those include provisions making it a state crime not to have alien registration papers or for illegal aliens to seek work in the state. Also knocked down was the provision allowing for warrantless arrests if state or local law enforcement have probable cause to believe someone is in the country illegally. What will spur discussion is how the Court handled the controversial “check your papers” provision, which requires law enforcement to check during a lawful detention the immigration status of people they have a reasonable suspicion of being in the country illegally. The Court today said that the lower courts acted too quickly in preventing enforcement of this provision. The rest of the story, subscribers only By John Reynolds |
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June 25, 2012 9:40 AM HEALTH CARE DECISION EXPECTED ON THURSDAYSCOTUS announces one more day of opinions this week, making the guesswork a little easier... |
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June 25, 2012 9:23 AM NO HEALTH CARE DECISION FROM SCOTUS TODAYBut a split decision on Arizona immigration law and a reversal in Montana campaign finance case... Details to come on those two cases. |
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Copyright June 25, 2012, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved 