Budget woes hit schools hard and harder
The New Jersey taxpayer revolt that led to the defeat of almost 59 percent of the school district budgets before voters attracted nationwide attention last week.
In most states, including Pennsylvania, school budgets are not put to a popular vote. But the fiscal tsunami that has swamped New Jersey - state-aid cuts, a bad economy, the end of federal stimulus aid - has rocked districts, threatening greater education cutbacks and job losses than most have ever seen.
Less than a week before residents here went to the polls, U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan warned Congress of a "catastrophe unfolding across this country" in the form of stripped-down state budgets that imperil 100,000 to 300,000 education jobs.
Locally, as municipal boards take up the task of reopening district spending plans in search of more possible cuts, school officials have expressed fear of program eliminations, growing class sizes, and further teacher layoffs.
Nationally, "literally tens of millions of students will experience these budget cuts in one way or another," Duncan testified. "Schools, districts, and states that are working so hard to improve will see their reforms undermined by these budget problems."
Even in districts where state funding has not been cut, the effects of local economic ills and the end of jobs-sparing stimulus money are being felt.
Duncan urged Congress to consider another round of funding as "emergency support for America's schools."
Sen. Tom Harkin (D., Iowa) - and 20 cosponsors, including New Jersey Democratic Sens. Robert Menendez and Frank Lautenberg and Sen. Arlen Specter (D., Pa.) - recently introduced the Keep Our Educators Working Act. It calls for creating a $23 billion Education Jobs Fund that could bring about $600 million to New Jersey and $900 million to Pennsylvania, according to a National Education Association analysis.
The money would spare or create more than 256,000 teaching positions in kindergarten through Grade 12 and
In most states, including Pennsylvania, school budgets are not put to a popular vote. But the fiscal tsunami that has swamped New Jersey - state-aid cuts, a bad economy, the end of federal stimulus aid - has rocked districts, threatening greater education cutbacks and job losses than most have ever seen.Less than a week before residents here went to the polls, U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan warned Congress of a "catastrophe unfolding across this country" in the form of stripped-down state budgets that imperil 100,000 to 300,000 education jobs.
Locally, as municipal boards take up the task of reopening district spending plans in search of more possible cuts, school officials have expressed fear of program eliminations, growing class sizes, and further teacher layoffs.
Nationally, "literally tens of millions of students will experience these budget cuts in one way or another," Duncan testified. "Schools, districts, and states that are working so hard to improve will see their reforms undermined by these budget problems."
Even in districts where state funding has not been cut, the effects of local economic ills and the end of jobs-sparing stimulus money are being felt.
Duncan urged Congress to consider another round of funding as "emergency support for America's schools."
Sen. Tom Harkin (D., Iowa) - and 20 cosponsors, including New Jersey Democratic Sens. Robert Menendez and Frank Lautenberg and Sen. Arlen Specter (D., Pa.) - recently introduced the Keep Our Educators Working Act. It calls for creating a $23 billion Education Jobs Fund that could bring about $600 million to New Jersey and $900 million to Pennsylvania, according to a National Education Association analysis.
The money would spare or create more than 256,000 teaching positions in kindergarten through Grade 12 and