January 2011 Sessions
Member Matters is a newsletter from The South Carolina Education Association (The SCEA) designed to provide supporters of public education with timely updates on issues that impact our lives. For more information on The SCEA, visit our website at www.thescea.org.
Legislative Update -Week 3, January 25-27, 2011
The House of Representatives passed the voter id bill (H.3003-Clemmons, Horry) by a vote of 74-45. This bill will would require a photo ID for anyone voting in an election in South Carolina and would allow those currently without a state driver's license to get a free photo identification card from the Department of Motor Vehicles. Implementation of H.3003 would cost the state $1.3 million and require 178,000 citizens to get new voter id cards.
The Ways and Means Public Education and Special Schools subcommittee heard testimonies from the following groups this week:
. Education Oversight Committee
. S.C. Public Charter Schools
. John De La Howe
. Wil Lou Gray Opportunity School
. School for the Deaf and Blind
Education Oversight Committee-stated that policies for student achievement should be prioritized during the budgeting process, noted that recent data showed S.C. 4th grade students performing on the national level but 8th grade students performing slightly below the national level, requested no new funding (keeping the current $1.5 million budget)
S.C. Charter Schools-requested additional funding because current allocations are being exceeded by $3500/student, stated that the cost differential between students in traditional schools (brick and mortar) and virtual could be 75% (based on data from N.C.)
John De La Howe-not operating at full capacity due to budget cuts, a residential facility that serves as a last attempt to help high-risk students that would be expelled, ages range from 12-21
Wil Lou Gray Opportunity School- 35% reduction during the last year, only focusing on core functions of education and lodging, most students return to traditional public schools (32%) with a large percentage (58%) either becoming employed or going to college
School for the Deaf and Blind- focuses on K-12 students, provides services in every county, due to budget cuts have closed facilities in Charleston, Florence and Rock Hill, replaced by giving itinerant teachers laptops
Committee Reports
House Judiciary Committee
H.3041 (J.R. Smith-Aiken) School Bond Elections-Recommitted to Subcommittee for further study
H.3041 would require all school bond elections to be held at the same time as general elections.
Upcoming committee meetings
Tuesday, February 1 -Ways and Means Revenue Policy Legislative Subcommittee will meet on H.3002 - Education Finance Act of 2011(Blatt 521, immediately upon adjournment)
Wednesday, February 2-House Education Committee will meet on H.3241- Charter School bill (Blatt 433, 1:30 or 1 ½ hours after adjournment)
Bills in the spotlight.
S.433 (Hayes-York)-Local school district exemptions and charter school funding
S.432 (Jackson-Richland) -School district consolidation study committee
Remember to use www.scstatehouse.org for more information on a bill.
EDUCATION FACT OF THE WEEK*
South Carolina Teachers earned straight A's (95.8 average) on the Quality Counts 2011 Report Card. This is the 15th edition of this annual report produced through the joint efforts of the Education Week newsroom and the Editorial Projects in Education Research Center.
* Provided to members of the S.C. General Assembly by The SCEA
ACTION FOR THIS WEEK.
The SCEA is fighting to provide educators with the necessary time and tools to increase your productivity in the classroom. Click here to read the Teacher Bill of Rights and let us know which item would benefit you the most.
http://www.thescea.org/home/466.htm
To find out more about The SCEA or join our efforts to protect children and public education, visit our website at www.thescea.org
The SCEA-Protecting and defending children and public education in South Carolina
Member Matters is a newsletter from The South Carolina Education Association (The SCEA) designed to provide supporters of public education with timely updates on issues that impact our lives. For more information on The SCEA, visit our website at www.thescea.org.
Legislative Update -Week 2, January 18-20, 2011
Governor Nikki Haley gave her first State of the State address this week and announced $120 million in targeted cuts with over $700 million more to come to make up the projected $840 million budget deficit. Included in the Governor's list during this speech were eliminating state funding of ETV ($9.5 million) and the Arts Commission ($2.3 million).Jackie B. Hicks, president of The South Carolina Education Association, released the following statement in response to Governor Haley's State of the State Address:
The SCEA applauds the governor's intention to make economic development and job creation her highest priority, and we heartily agree that education is the state's most important duty to our children. We praise her call to reduce the rate of recidivism in our prisons and to develop a better school funding formula. We respectfully submit that investing in education is the fastest and best way to achieve all these important goals. Click here to read the entire statement.
State Superintendent of Education Mick Zais this week presented a list of cuts and new funding requests to the Ways and Mean Public Education and Special Schools subcommittee. Included in his recommendations are $107 million in targeted cuts by eliminating, suspending or reducing 25 programs. In addition, Supt. Zais recommended $36 million in new funding requests for three programs, resulting in $71 million in cuts from the State Department of Education's $2.4 million base budget. The proposed cuts are:
- Junior Scholars-$106, 790(program elimination)
- ADEPT(teacher evaluation system)-$1.7 million(program elimination)
- High Schools That Work and Making Middle Grades Work-$1.6 million(program elimination)
- Nursing program-$471,049(program elimination)
- School Lunch Program(aid to school districts)-$300,239(reduction to statute)
- School Facilities(building maintenance to school districts)-$10 million(program elimination)
- SAT/ACT Improvement and High School Redesign(PSAT/PLAN tests and instructional materials)-$280,714(program elimination)
- Character Education(funding to districts)-$176,988(program elimination)
- Technical Assistance and Support to Below Average & Unsatisfactory Schools-$29 million (reduction of 50%)
- Palmetto Gold & Silver Awards Program-$2.3 million(currently suspended-program elimination)
- Arts Curricula Instruction(grants and professional development for arts instructors)-$1.1 million(program elimination)
- K-12 Technology Partnership)-$10 million(suspend)
- Instructional Materials(textbooks)-$12 million(suspend)
- Office of School Leadership(professional development for school administrators)-$673, 154(program elimination)
- Teacher Quality Teacher Recruitment(CERRA)-$656,459(15% reduction)
- Holocaust (visual library)-$31,174(program elimination)
- Writing Improvement Network-$215,013(program elimination)
- SC Geographic Alliance(partnership with National Geographic)-$183,375(program elimination)
- School Improvement Council-$22,465(reduction)
- Centers of Excellence(professional development for teachers)-$537,526(program elimination)
- Education Oversight Committee Public Relations-$25,266(15% reduction)
- State Department of Education(administration)-$235,842(15% reduction)
- Student Health and Fitness Act of 2005-$4 million(15% reduction)
- Education and Economic Development Act(EEDA)-$4 million(15% reduction)
- Consolidated Funds(graduation credits increase, guidance counselors, resource officers, school nurses)-$3.2 million(15% reduction)
The proposed funding requests are:
· South Carolina Virtual Learning Program(additional teachers)-$687,500
· Transportation(additional funds for fuel)-$25 million
· National Board Certification Program-$10 million
Committee reports
House K-12 Education subcommittee
H.3241 (Owens-Pickens) Charter schools bill - Favorable with amendments.
The bill was amended to eliminate the 2% administrative requirement from local funds and allows the state treasurer to be reimbursed for costs associated with administrating the revolving loan program. Jackie B. Hicks, President of The SCEA, testified at the subcommittee hearing and expressed the association's position that teachers in the S.C. Public Charters schools be provided the same opportunities for career stability(i.e. annual and continuing contracts) as traditional public schools. Next step-Full Education Committee
House Judiciary
H.3003 (Clemmons-Horry) Voter ID- Favorable
H. 3003 would require a photo ID for anyone voting in an election in South Carolina and passed by a 13-7 vote. The bill would allow those currently without a state driver's license to get a free photo identification card from the Department of Motor Vehicles. Next step- House of Representatives floor debate
House Judiciary Special Laws Subcommittee
H.3041 (J.R. Smith-Aiken) School Bond Elections-Favorable
H.3041 would require all school bond elections to be held at the same time as general elections.
Next step-Full Judiciary Committee
Bills in the spotlight.
S.414 (Grooms-Berkeley)-Educational Opportunity Act (scholarship program for independent schools)H.3407 (Herbkersman-Beaufort) -Educational Opportunity Act (scholarship program for independent schools)
Remember to use http://www.scstatehouse.org/ for more information on a bill.
ACTION FOR THIS WEEK.
Let us know what you think about the proposed budget cuts from the Superintendent of Education Mick Zais and Governor Nikki Haley by sending me an email at jlawson@thescea.org.To find out more about The SCEA or join our efforts to protect children and public education, visit our website at http://www.thescea.org/
The SCEA-Protecting and defending children and public education in South Carolina
Member Matters is a newsletter from The South Carolina Education Association (The SCEA) designed to provide supporters of public education with timely updates on issues that impact our lives. For more information on The SCEA, visit our website at www.thescea.org.
ACTION FOR THIS WEEK.
Healthcare repeal vote is scheduled for Wednesday, January 19, 2011!Repeal would take away:
- Coverage from 32 million Americans, who would be uninsured without the new law, including many students in our classrooms;
- The freedom from worrying about losing insurance or having it capped if someone gets sick;
- Freedom from fear of insurance companies raising premiums by double digits with no recourse or accountability;
- Freedom from discrimination of denied coverage because you happen to be a woman who is pregnant or a child with disabilities;
- The right for parents to continue to cover their children on their health policies until age 26.
Repeal would also explode the national deficit (increasing it by $230 billion in the first decade).
Repealing the entire law because will be devastating to millions of children and their families. This drastic measure is not the answer - even if there are some provisions people want to change.
Tell your congressman TODAY to vote NO on repealing this important piece of legislation by clicking here.
Legislative Update -Week 1, January 11-13, 2011
A new era in state government began on January 11, with the inauguration of Governor Nikki Haley and a host of newly elected state officials, including Dr. Mick Zais as State Superintendent of Education.Facing a budget deficit of over $800 million and proposed public education cuts of $200 million-it is imperative that supporters of children realize that investment in public education provides a return on investment in later years for this state. According to a study by the Moore School of Business, for every $1 invested in public education between 2010 and 2030 approximately $11.20 will be added to the state's economy (Return On Investment of over 1000% in 20 years).
The Ways and Means Committee has already begun meeting with state agencies on the fiscal year 2012 budget and revised the process this week by starting with a full committee meeting instead of the normal subcommittee format. The State Department of Education was first on the list, with the new superintendent of education providing the following information:
- Total revenue to districts for 2010-$7.72 billion(includes state, federal and local)
- Total district expenditures for 2010-$6.8 billion
- $900 million difference=district reserves
- Stated some of the reserves could be used to rehire laid off teachers
- Does not advocate shortening the school year(noted that Americans go to school less than most industrialized nations)
- Will provide the committee a review of privatizing the transportation system(not just savings but quality of service)
- Advocated changing the funding formula from programmatic(current) to child-specific(money following the child, backpacking) and thought ESOL and poverty should be included in the weighting
- Advocated local autonomy in decision-making on funding
- Noted that the SC on time graduation rate was 54% based on Quality Counts and 74% based on the National Governor's Association calculation
- Stated that graduation tracks should include college-prep, technical and basic
State Superintendent Zais will also present to the Ways and Means Public Education and Special Schools Subcommittee on Wednesday, January 19.
Bills in the spotlight
The following bills are expected to move quickly through the legislature:
- H.3002 (Cooper-Anderson)-Education Finance Act of 2011, new funding distribution formula
- H.3241 (Owens-Oconee)-Charter schools bill revisions
- S.310 (Davis-Beaufort)-Revised calculation for the Index of Taxpaying Ability(ITA)
Remember to use http://www.scstatehouse.org/ for specific information on a bill.
To find out more about The SCEA or join our efforts to protect children and public education, visit our website at http://www.thescea.org/
The SCEA-Protecting and defending children and public education in South Carolina
