Ed Money Watch

At Ed Money Watch, we discuss and analyze major issues affecting education funding. In our Friday News Roundup, we try to highlight interesting stories that might otherwise get overlooked. These stories emphasize how federal and state policy changes can affect local schools and districts.

Hawaii Enacts Law Mandating 180-Day School Year

Missouri Governor Approves Slim Budget

University of Michigan Announces its Lowest Tuition Increase Since 1984

Hawaii Enacts Law Mandating 180-Day School Year
Hawaii Lieutenant Governor James Aiona, acting on Governor Linda Lingle’s behalf, this week signed a measure into law that requires public K-12 schools to offer at least 180 school days each year. Prior to enacting the law, Hawaii was the only state that did not have a law setting a minimum amount of instructional time. Starting in the 2011-12 school year, after the state renews its contract with the teachers union, the 180-day minimum will be enacted along with a minimum of 915 instructional hours in elementary schools and 990 hours in middle and high schools. The instructional hour minimum will increase to 1,080 hours in all schools starting in 2013. The law is in response to the 17 furlough days imposed on teachers in the 2009-10 school year to help balance the state budget. More here…

Missouri Governor Approves Slim Budget
Missouri Governor Jay Nixon this week approved the state’s $23 billion fiscal year 2011 budget, which will make big cuts to school aid, higher education, social services, and public transit. The biggest reduction in the state budget was a $70 million cut from fiscal year 2010 levels for K-12 student transportation costs. In the past, the state has reimbursed districts for about 40 percent of their busing costs. In fiscal year 2011 the reimbursement will be less than 30 percent. The state’s public universities will also take a hit. Funding levels will be cut by 5.2 percent from last year, based on a deal between by Governor Nixon and the universities. The state universities will hold tuition steady in the coming year. The state’s two major scholarship programs will also see serious cuts. The Bright Flight merit based scholarship will be cut by 25 percent, reducing the maximum grant from $2,000 to $1,500 while maintaining eligibility standards. The Access Missouri scholarship program for low-income students will be cut by $50 million from an initial appropriation of $83 million. More here…

University of Michigan Announces its Lowest Tuition Increase Since 1984
The University of Michigan this week announced that it will increase tuition at its main campus by 1.5 percent, or $178, to $11,837 for the 2011-12 school year. Students at the university’s satellite campuses will see increases of 3.9 percent. The state’s other universities are awaiting a decision by the legislature on the fiscal year 2011 higher education budget before setting tuition levels. The state House of Representatives voted to maintain fiscal year 2010 funding levels for higher education, but the Senate approved a 3.1 percent cut. Until the final budget is determined in conference committee, universities won’t know what to expect. Students will be hit especially hard by any tuition increases this year as the state’s Promise Grants – merit-based scholarships – were eliminated in a budget-balancing measure. Funding for several other state scholarships, mostly need-based aid, will be cut to $78.6 million this year, a 63.9 percent decrease from 2009 levels. More here…

Briefly Noted

• Despite new incentives from the state, fewer Michigan teachers are retiring this year than expected.