State News Highlights - February

Alabama

Facebook: Alabama BATs

State Administrators - Terri Rector Michal

Twitter: @AlabamaBATs

Alabama voters to decide on abolishing elected school board.

California

Facebook: California BATs

Facebook Administrators: Tina Andres, Karen Wolfe, Jeanne Berrong, Owen Jackman, Sherry Skipper-Spurgeon, Jed Idan, Lisa Palmer, Heather Poland, Paula Meyer, Lance Wren, Virginia Tibbets, Jose del Barrio.

Twitter: @CaliBATs

CA BAT and amazing local activist Mike Hutchinson has filed to run for Oakland School Board.

Florida

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Facebook Administrators - Donna Yates Mace, Lisa Yurkin, Marcus Hochman

Twitter: @FLBATsA

Florida school-choice expansion bills advance in House, Senate.

Illinois

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Facebook Administrator - Diane Barrett King Rener and Millisa Libey Jaycox

Twitter: @IllinoisBATs

Sara Huser.... a Counselor at Chrystal Lake high school, Illinois, worked at getting her high school senior out of ICE detention so she can finish her senior year... even to putting up the 2,000 dollars in bail and providing a place for her to stay until her father can get out

Kentucky

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State Administrators - Tiffany Benningfield Dunn and Julia Berner

Twitter: @KentuckyBATs

Kentucky lawmakers are being pushed to pass a controversial school choice bill.

Massachusetts

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Facebook Administrator - Amy Wolpin, Sue Doherty

Twitter: @MassBATs

In Massachusetts, students step up to pressure schools on renewable energy

Missouri

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Facebook Administrator - Anne Pritchett, Bob Minor

Twitter: @MissouriBATs

Bill would require Missouri school districts to have armed resource officers.

New Hampshire

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Facebook Administrator: Jena DiPinto

Twitter: @NHampshireBATs

With teacher shortage, schools turn to educators without licenses.

North Carolina

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Facebook Administrators: Angie McLeod Barbour, Melanie Miday-Stern, Jenn Martin

Disparity in North Carolina public school funding widens

Oregon

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Facebook Administrator: Kathleen Hagans Jeskey, Pete Teller, Anna Riddels, Jennifer Dorsey, and Tricia Snyder.

Twitter: @OregonBATs

Salem-Keizer School Board approves Student Investment proposal despite protests

South Dakota

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Facebook Administrator - Suzy Suzanne

Twitter: Coming Soon

Senate unanimously passes plan for Native American schools

Vermont

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Twitter: @VermontBATs

2020 Farm to School Program awards $110,000 in grants

West Virginia

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Facebook Administrator - Greg Cruey

Twitter : @WVBATs

Arts promoted at the capitol

Alaska

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State Administrators - Andy Holleman and Julie Santaella

Twitter: @AlaskaBATs

Senate Bill 6 (SB6): Alaska Early Education Program Act, will give Alaska’s school districts the opportunity to develop high-quality early education programs that are culturally appropriate and tailored to their students through a three-year grants process based on Alaska's current Pre-K program and the successful efforts of other states.

Colorado

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State Administrators - William Ames Prather

Twitter: @ColoradoBATsA

Colorado teachers plan to rally at the Capitol again this year — and at least one district will cancel classes

Georgia

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Facebook Administrators - Lynda Wolfe Smith, Lisa Morgan, Peter Toggerson

Twitter: @GeorgiaBATs2

Senate bill proposes to raise age at which teens can drop out of high school.

Indiana

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Facebook Administrator: Cathy Sutton

Twitter: @IndianaBATs

Indianapolis Public Schools cancels busing Friday after “rogue” drivers call in sick

Louisiana

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Twitter: @LouisianaBATs

Louisiana’s COMPASS Teacher Eval System Goes Down Following Statewide Cyberattack

After video surfaces, New Orleans principal in monuments flap out of job, declared no 'role model' for kids.

Michigan

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State Administrators - Linda K. Eastman, Rebecca Lehnert Armstrong, Mary Genger Kieft Bouwense, Carina Hilbert, Jonathan Marceau

Twitter: @MIBATs

Michigan far behind other states in charter school oversight, report finds.

Montana

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Facebook Administrator - Cheryl Samson Denton

Twitter @MontanaBATs

Feds to cut $400,000 from rural school grant program in Montana, $5.4 million nationwide

New Jersey

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Facebook Administrators - Melissa Tomlinson, Judy Strollo

Twitter: @NJBATsA

Black History Month is every month at this New Jersey school.

North Dakota

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Facebook Administrators: Marguerite Madeleine

NDDPI has proactively created initiatives and programs designed to improve Native American student attendance and graduation rates.

Pennsylvania

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State Administrators - Dana Marie

Twitter: @PennBAT

Study shows rural Pennsylvania school districts not benefitting from nearby fracking

Tennessee

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State Administrators - Lee Ann Pepper Nolan, Tikeila Rucker, Larry Proffitt, Jennifer Navarre, Mary Holden, Jenee Hewlett Peters, Neshellda Johnson, Lu Howard, and April Waltrip Jeffries

Twitter: @MemphisBATBa

Nashville Mayor John cooper files Metro lawsuit against state of Tennessee over school voucher law

Virginia

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Facebook Administrators: Cheryl Gibbs Binkley, Sue Goncarovs, Erin Rafferty, Justin Kern

Twitter @VirginiaBATs

Virginia public school teachers poised to gain collective bargaining rights

Wisconsin

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Facebook Administrator: Debbie Kadon

Twitter - Coming Soon!

Evers vetoes GOP spending plan, calls for investments in education, property tax relief

Arizona

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State Administrators - Kathie Wing Larsyn and Lise Spangenthal

Twitter: @AZBatsA

Superintendent Kathy Hoffman urges lawmakers to fund pre-K, pay teachers more.

Connecticut

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State Administrators - Jesse Turner and Rose Reyes

Twitter - Coming Soon

On April 3rd Educators and community members will be walking to Hartford for education equity.

Hawaii

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State Administrators - Mireille Christianne Ellsworth

Twitter: @HawaiiBATs

Hawaii Educators Tackle Teacher Shortage With Ambitious 5-Year Plan

Iowa

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Facebook Administrator - Jane Balvanz

Twitter: @Iowabats

GOP lawmakers split over size of education funding increase

Maine

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Facebook Administrator - Robin Ellen Brooks

Twitter: @MaineBATs

These ‘radical educators’ want to dismantle racial bias in Maine schools.

Minnesota

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Twitter: @MNBATs1

St. Paul teachers poised for a strike on March 10th.

Nebraska

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Facebook Administrator - Brittany Alexander

Twitter: @NebraskaBATs

The Education Committee heard testimony Feb. 24 on a bill that would pay schools up front for large, unexpected increases in special education costs.

New Mexico

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State Administrators - Sara Attleson and Angela Reynolds

Twitter @NewMexicoBATs

Governor Signs Bill Creating Early Childhood Trust Fund, + More

Ohio

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Facebook Administrators - Brittany Alexander, Kelly Braun, Karen Linch, Mandy Jablonski, Paula Garfield, Beth Egbert, Debra Fedyna, Amber Clark, Jessica Bosak, Katie Hauer

Twitter: @OhioBATs

EdChoice Scholarship forum

SB 89 Could Prevent Disaster For Ohio Public Schools.

Rhode Island

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State Administrators -
Twitter @RhodeIslandBats

Rhode Island students take fight for civic education to courts

Texas

Facebook: Texas BATs

State Administrators - Pamela Ehrlich Smith, Gerald Savoy,

Twitter: @TxBats

A March 16 rally in Austin is scheduled to oppose the state takeover of HISD The Texas Education Agency and the governor are trying to take over HISD school district and replace neighborhood public schools with unaccountable charter schools.

Washington

Facebook: WashingtonBATs

Facebook Administrators: Becca Ritchie, Susan DuFresne, Michelle Murphy Ramey, Linda Myrick, Amy Hepburn, Karen Adlum, Sheri Fingeroot Kittay

Twitter @WABATs_

What Gives You the White of Way? How Seattle Public Schools Educators of Color Are Fighting Back

Wyoming

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Facebook Administrator:

Twitter - Coming Soon!

Wyoming Education Requirements Could Be Overhauled

Arkansas

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State Administrators - Tina Andres

Twitter: @ArkansasBATsA

Arkansas Education Secretary approves Little Rock School Board election zone plan.

Delaware

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Twitter: @DelawareBATs

Early education, school safety major topics at budget hearing.

Idaho

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Facebook Administrator - Mary Ollie and Levi Cavaner

Twitter: @IdahoBATs

Statehouse roundup: 2-28-20 House passes teacher pay and school elections bills.

Kansas

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Facebook Administrator - Anne Pritchett

Twitter: @KansasBATs

Governor's Council on Education has first meeting of 2020

Maryland

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Twitter - coming soon

Students failing, teachers fleeing: In Md., calls for sweeping - and expensive - education reform

Mississippi

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Facebook Administrator - Amanda Koonlaba

Twitter: @MississippiBATs

BAT Amanda Koonlaba named top 40 under 40

Public school advocates celebrate Public Schools Week at the Capitol.

Nevada

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Facebook Administrator - Lisa Muntean, Phil Sorenson, Stacey Wolff, Chet Miller, Cindy Darden, Sarah Sunnasy, Carmen Andrews, Mary Beth DeNigris-Franzeo, Jennifer Petrie

Twitter @NVBATs

Hands-on Civics Lesson: Las Vegas caucus site run by high school students.

New York

Facebook: New York BATs

Facebook Administrators - Beth Glazer-Schettino, Terry Kalb, Eric Olsen, Jamy Brice Hyde, Jake Jacobs, Eve Shippens, Rosemary Pearce, Tara Molloy-Grocki, and Dave Greene

Twitter: @NYBATs

@NYStateBATs

NY education officials pause more private school control after backlash