Education

Program Aims to Keep Children Going to School

April 13, 2011 Jessica Gail

Every single day, more than 5,500 elementary school students are absent from school across the Wasatch front. Salt Lake County officials say that is too many who aren’t learning lifelong skills each day. So Wednesday, a volunteer group of nearly three dozen community leaders met at a Salt Lake City elementary school to remind students the importance of going to class and the value of staying in school. KCPW’s Jessica Gail reports.

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Education

Higher Education Costs Going Up

March 14, 2011 Jessica Gail

With higher education taking a hit in the 2012 budget approved by the Utah legislature, the costs are likely to be passed on to students. David Buhler, Associate Commissioner of the Utah System of Higher Education, says schools have saved as much as they can over the past three years, but students will ultimately see the effect in their wallets.

Education

Legislative Session Ends with Capitol Protest

March 11, 2011 Whittney Evans

Education reform, illegal immigration and restricting open records dominated the 2011 session of the Utah legislature, which wrapped up last night at midnight. KCPW’s Whittney Evans reports on what lawmakers from both parties have to say about what the legislature accomplished in the past 45 days.

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Education

State Superintendent Discusses Ed. Funding

March 9, 2011 Jeff Robinson

After all is said and done at the Utah Legislature this year, it looks like public education will be the biggest winner in next year’s budget. The legislature’s top budgeting committee has signed off on a 2 percent increase in funding, which will help when public schools are expected to grow by more than 14,000 students next year.

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Education

School Bus Advertising Bill Clears Senate

March 8, 2011 Jessica Gail

A bill that would allow school bus ads to bring in cash for school districts is close to becoming law. Republican Representative Jim Bird has been working on the bill for the past year, because he says more money needs to go to busing students in hazardous areas. Last year, his bill died in the House Education Committee.

Education

Higher Ed, Parks Lose Funding in Latest Budget Plan

March 8, 2011 Whittney Evans

While public education gets more funding in the legislature’s latest budget plan, state parks and higher education are taking bigger hits than expected. Senate Budget Chairman Lyle Hillyard says the rationale for cuts to higher ed is that colleges and universities can raise tuition.

Education

R or D? State School Board Candidates May Have to Choose

March 7, 2011 Whittney Evans

State school board candidates could soon be running as Republicans or Democrats. Senate Bill 224, sponsored by Republican Senator Howard Stephenson, was approved by the Senate yesterday. It creates direct, partisan elections for the State Board of Education. Currently, a 12-person committee nominates three candidates for school board seats, and the governor chooses two names that go on the ballot.

Education

Politics Up Close: Charter Schools & the Legislature

March 4, 2011 Jeff Robinson

Chris Bleak, President of the Utah Association of Public Charter Schools, talked with us about what’s at stake for charter schools up at the Utah Legislature.

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Education

Bus Driver Fired for Stopping at DeChristopher Rally

March 2, 2011 Jeff Robinson

An on-call bus driver for Salt Lake City School District has lost his job after driving fifth-grade students to the federal courthouse, where Tim DeChristopher is on trial. Ryan Pleune says he wanted the students to see democracy in action yesterday by observing the protesters outside.

Education

Charter School Funding Overhaul Clears Committee

March 1, 2011 Whittney Evans

A bill that would shift charter school funding to local school districts won the approval of the House Education Committee this morning. Republican Representative Merlynn Newbold’s bill requires school districts to gradually pay for more and more students attending charter schools over the next 13 years.

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