Weekly News Round-Up for August 31st

posted by: Melissa | August 31, 2018, 08:21 PM

Each week, KANAAE brings its members a round-up of what’s happening in education. From big, eye-catching headlines to the stories most papers overlook, we find the news our members really want to see. This week, teacher strikes, an end to an Arizona ballot measure, contaminated water, and more!

Teacher Strikes Delay School in Washington State: For many students in Washington State, the school year did not start when it was intended to. Instead of starting classes this week, teachers in many of the state’s districts went on strike instead. The strikes were driven by a dispute over school funding. Although, the state had allocated funds for schools and teachers, many teachers in the state feel as if they’re being shortchanged at the district level and not being paid the right amount. Districts argue that funds have not been distributed equally and that they can only offer moderate salary increases.

Arizona Court Tosses School Funding Ballot Measure: A ballot measure that was intended to let Arizona citizens vote on the issue of school funding has been tossed by the state’s supreme court. The initiative, if passed by voters, would have increased school funding by levying extra taxes on those earning more than $250,000 a year. The court said that citizens who signed the petition to get the measure on the ballot were not informed that it would also eliminate the indexing of tax brackets to inflation.

Detroit Public Schools Shut off All Drinking Water: Detroit Public Schools’ new superintendent, Nikolai Vitti has issued an order to shut off all drinking water in all of the district’s schools. The order came after testing revealed that many of the buildings had water contaminated with lead and/or copper. The water contamination is not related to the contaminated water crisis in Flint, MI, but was caused by decaying pipes in the school.Â The schools will get water through bottles and water coolers while a long-term solution is sought. It’s estimated that fixing the schools will cost $500 million. An earlier report from the Government Accountability Office found that most schools do not adequately test their water for lead, and there could be more schools with contaminated water than previously believed.

Happening Elsewhere:

Education Dept. Proposals on Guns in Schools Sparks Outcry

Gates Foundation's New School Initiative Awards Big Grants to California Nonprofits

Senate Approves More Than $70b for FY2019 Ed Budget

Female, Minority Students Took AP Computer Science in Record Numbers

2 in 3 Americans Say Public School Teachers Are Underpaid

Texas Teachers Unions Sue Education Agency Over Charter Partnership Law

After Deadly Crash, Three-Point Seat Belts Now the Law for N.J. School Buses

Virginia Attorney General Says Rural District’s Plan to Arm Teachers Is Illegal

Minnesota Unveils New Benchmarks for Schools, Identifies 485 for Additional Help

Raimondo Announces Ban on Carrying Guns on School Grounds

Oklahoma Legislators Who Opposed Teacher Pay Bill Are Voted Out