Sign-up and post on Iberkshires today.It's Free!
Already a member? Log In
27°  H- 42%
The Berkshires online guide to events, news and Berkshire County community information.
Friday November 21, 2008
 Make us your homepage!
 

Daily Digest


Ever think you'd see that price again? This was taken in Stamford but there are reports some North Adams' gas stations are that low as well.
Like to Write?
Passionate about local sports? Into the environment? Obsessive about local meetings?

Let your neighbors know what's going on in Berkshire County! iBerkshires accepts submissions about local events, news and opinion pieces. There are openings for freelance work, too, for qualified candidates. E-mail tdaniels@iberkshires.com to find out more.
Got Flu?
Track its spread through Google!
How much is heating oil this week?
How to get heating help
Win a restaurant gift certificate.
Need to contact iBerkshires? Here's how.

Obituaries

Anthony F. Milazzo, 66
Ada E. Canale, 95
Peter G. Arlos, 82
Former Pittsfield councilor
Helen N. Renner, 93
Former Pownal librarian
Eunice J. Schleif, 76
Retired state child-care director
Tiffany E. Byrne, 14
More obituaries

What's Playing


It's teen vampire love in the new film "Twilight," based on the best-selling series by Stephenie Meyer.
Movie schedules and times

Sales Fliers

 
 

Columnists

That's Life

Dealing with Dirty Laundry

Independent Investor

Economy Will Dictate Agenda, Not President

Pick of the Week

Staind

Sports 'N Stuff

NFL Midseason Report Card



Other Stuff


Bush Dissed by G20
Buy 1/Get 1 Sends Laptops to Developing Countries
Berkshire Hathaway Posts Big Drop
State Police Hit By Budget Crunch
The president-elect's new Web site
www.change.gov

 Search: 
 for    

Related Stories

 
Printer Friendly Version
   Recommend this story to a friend

State Ed Board Eyes Hike in Spending

By Catherine Williams - November 03, 2007

State House News Service

BOSTON - The state Board of Education is weighing a proposal to increase spending on K-12 public education next fiscal year by 10 percent, to $4.7 billion.

The plan, discussed at a special budget planning meeting Thursday, would bump up funds for failing schools, standardized testing programs and programs to shrink student achievement gaps between the highest and lowest performing Bay State students.

The budget proposal includes $4.3 billion in local aid funding, a $285 million increase over the current fiscal year. Chapter 70 aid to cities and towns would increase to $3.9 billion, up $193 million over this year’s allocation.

The board is concerned with protecting funding for programs that address the widening achievement gap in the Bay State, board Chairman Paul Reville told the News Service after the meeting. The budget proposal, which will go before the full board later this month, calls for a $43 million fund, up from the current $13.2 million, to help teachers pull up low-performing students.

Reville said the board’s budget priorities also include grants for students and training teachers who teach some of Massachusetts’ 50,000 foreign language students.

"It is an area where I think we need to focus on," said Reville.

Reville said two additional priorities include the $20.6 million purse for the Metco program, which places minority urban students in suburban school districts, and a new $1 million bank to fund a program to prepare students to enter an international workplace.

Some of the most significant increases would go to programs designed to prevent students from dropping out of school. For instance, a $39 million fund, up from $30 million currently, would pay for programs for failing schools in 46 school districts. And a $12 million budget item would reinstate a health education program for counseling and substance abuse prevention.

"The sense of urgency [about high dropout rates] has to be reflected in this budget," said Ruth Kaplan, a board member.

In addition, the budget proposal includes $32 million for an MCAS student assessment program, a $4.7 million increase from 2008.

The board plans to approve the final budget proposal during their next meeting on Nov. 27 before sending it to administration officials for review later this year.
Your Comments
Post Comment
No Comments


iBerkshires.com Text Ads
www.berkshireads.com
www.nbctc.org
www.iberkshires.com
www.berkshirejobs.com
Advertise on iBerkshires.com



Essentials
Berkshire Nightlife
Berkshire Photos
Berkshire Wallpaper
Borrow Movies
Class Reunion Page
Columnists
Dannyoart.com
Movie Times
Obituaries
Randy Trabold

Enter your email address below to receive our FREE iBerkshires.com Newsletter

| Home | A & E | Automotive | Business | Community News | Dining | Lodging & Travel |
| Real Estate | Schools | Sports & Outdoors | Berkshires Weather | Weddings | Berkshires Map |
Advertise | Recommend This Page | Help
Contact Us | Privacy Policy| User Agreement
Execution Time: 250 ms