News Briefs

Some states face education budget squeeze

Nov 1, 2007 5:05 PM

New York State may be adequately funding schools this year, but that is not the case for states such as Florida, Michigan, Illinois and Wisconsin. Florida cut some $150 million out of a year-old mandatory individual merit-pay plan for teachers — a plan the teachers unions opposed — along with reducing state aid for students attending private colleges and universities.

In Michigan, the governor wants a 2.5 percent increase in the K-12 education budget, which may not happen, while the state is cutting back on retired teacher health-care plans. Retirees will now pay 10 percent of their monthly premiums, while new hires will contribute 2 percent of their salaries to their retirement plans.

In Illinois, the state legislature has still not allotted its promised $550 million increase in state aid for education, so schools will be funded based on fiscal 2007 levels totaling $6.5 billion for K-12 education, said Matt Vanover, a spokesman for the state board of education.

Meanwhile, Wisconsin still has not passed a budget for this year, and observers predict teacher layoffs, increased tuition for state universities and cuts in student financial aid.

Education Week, Oct. 10