State News Highlights - December
Alabama
Facebook: Alabama BATs
State Administrators - Terri Rector Michal
Twitter: @AlabamaBATs
Judge orders Alabama city to pay $850,000 in legal fees for school segregation plot gone wrong
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
A lawsuit is challenging the University of California system's use of the SAT or ACT as a requirement for admission.
Florida
Facebook: Florida BATs
Facebook Administrators - Donna Yates Mace, Lisa Yurkin, Marcus Hochman
Twitter: @FLBATsA
Thousands of teachers, parents and students are expected to gather on 1/13 for a rally at the Florida State Capital in Tallahassee to advocate for public education.
Illinois
Facebook: Illinois BATs
Facebook Administrator - Diane Barrett King Rener and Millisa Libey Jaycox
Twitter: @IllinoisBATs
Illinois will get $13.4 million a year through 2022 to build programs and expand preschool programs for low-income and moderate-income families.
Kentucky
Facebook: Kentucky BATS
State Administrators - Tiffany Benningfield Dunn and Julia Berner
Twitter: @KentuckyBATs
Henry Clay high school students are the first in Lexington to form a Sources of Strength group meant to provide support to fellow classmates and adults in troubling times.
Massachusetts
Facebook: Massachusetts BATs
Facebook Administrator - Amy Wolpin, Sue Doherty
Twitter: @MassBATs
Massachusetts Nonprofit, Building Excellent Schools, receives $57M from Arkansas Waltons
Missouri
Facebook: Missouri BATs
Facebook Administrator - Anne Pritchett, Bob Minor
Twitter: @MissouriBATs
Missouri Has A Plan To Boost Teacher Pay: It'll Cost $400 Million
New Hampshire
Facebook: New Hampshire BATs
Facebook Administrator: Jena DiPinto
Twitter: @NHampshireBATs
My Turn: Sununu and the clever undermining of public education
North Carolina
Facebook: North Carolina BATs
Facebook Administrators: Angie McLeod Barbour, Melanie Miday-Stern, Jenn Martin
Education software giant SAS is paying for state legislators to attend ALEC’s annual meetings.
Oregon
Facebook: Oregon BATs
Facebook Administrator: Kathleen Hagans Jeskey, Pete Teller, Anna Riddels, Jennifer Dorsey, and Tricia Snyder.
Twitter: @OregonBATs
Keanon Lowe, Parkrose coach who stopped armed student, named one of Time’s heroes of 2019 .
West Virginia
Facebook : West Virginia BATs
Facebook Administrator - Greg Cruey
Twitter : @WVBATs
West Virginia graduation requirement policies up for public comment
Alaska
Facebook: Alaska BATs
State Administrators - Andy Holleman and Julie Santaella
Twitter: @AlaskaBATs
The Alaska Department of Education and Early Development is pursuing agreements with Alaska Native tribal governments to operate K-12 schools.
Colorado
Facebook: Colorado BATs
State Administrators - William Ames Prather
Twitter: @ColoradoBATsA
A new school board in Denver starts off by creating a new atmosphere.
Georgia
Facebook: Georgia BATs
Facebook Administrators - Lynda Wolfe Smith, Lisa Morgan, Peter Toggerson
Twitter: @GeorgiaBATs2
A new law passed to give DFCS, the state Department of Education, and school systems more oversight responsibilities when students leave a school system.
Indiana
Facebook: Indiana BATs
Facebook Administrator: Cathy Sutton
Twitter: @IndianaBATs
Indiana lawmakers hope to curb the smoking epidemic, shore up the state's unemployment fund and make some modest changes in education. But the biggest issue – raising teacher pay – will have to wait until 2021
Louisiana
Facebook: Louisiana BATs
Twitter: @LouisianaBATs
Louisiana’s COMPASS Teacher Eval System Goes Down Following Statewide Cyberattack
Students at Glen Oaks High School will get job shadowing, internships and possibly even jobs at Baton Rouge General, thanks to a new partnership between the school and hospital.
Here's how a cyberattack disrupted Tangipahoa school busing, payroll, lesson plans.
Michigan
Facebook: Michigan BATs
State Administrators - Linda K. Eastman, Rebecca Lehnert Armstrong, Mary Genger Kieft Bouwense, Carina Hilbert, Jonathan Marceau
Twitter: @MIBATs
The feds granted millions for Michigan charter schools that never opened. Where did the money go?
Montana
Facebook: Montana BATs
Facebook Administrator - Cheryl Samson Denton
Twitter @MontanaBATs
The Department of Public Health and Human Services has provided the Children and Families Committee with information detailing the changes the agency plans to make to proposed administrative rules relating to school public health standards. The materials from DPHHS are posted on the administrative rules page of the committee's website.
New Jersey
Facebook: New Jersey BATs
Facebook Administrators - Melissa Tomlinson, Judy Strollo
Twitter: @NJBATsA
New Jersey students, teachers rally in Trenton to protest education cuts
North Dakota
Facebook: North Dakota BATs
Facebook Administrators: Marguerite Madeleine
Grand Forks teachers union worried about trend of physical violence in local schools
Pennsylvania
Facebook: Pennsylvania BATs
State Administrators - Dana Marie
Twitter: @PennBAT
Chester Community Charter School put forth a proposal to convert all of Chester-Upland SD’s remaining elementary schools to charter schools. A judge decided that Chester Community Charter’s proposal was premature.
Tennessee
Facebook: Tennessee BATs
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
Opponents seek to erase education voucher law
Virginia
Facebook: Virginia BATs
Facebook Administrators: Cheryl Gibbs Binkley, Sue Goncarovs, Erin Rafferty, Justin Kern
Twitter @VirginiaBATs
Virginia Governor Ralph Northam release his biennium budget, and it was greeted with very mixed results.
Wisconsin
Facebook: Wisconsin BATs
Facebook Administrator: Debbie Kadon
Twitter - Coming Soon!
On April 7th, Milwaukee voters have the opportunity to pass a $87 million referendum that will provide more of the resources and support that students deserve.
Arizona
Facebook: Arizona BATs
State Administrators - Kathie Wing Larsyn and Lise Spangenthal
Twitter: @AZBatsA
Republican Representative Anthony Kern feeds into attacks on LGBTQ curriculum at monthly Tea Party meeting.
Connecticut
Facebook: Connecticut BATs
State Administrators - Jesse Turner and Rose Reyes
Twitter - Coming Soon
Immigrant students say they can’t seek free college program
Hawaii
Facebook: Hawaii BATs
State Administrators - Mireille Christianne Ellsworth
Twitter: @HawaiiBATs
Millions worth of differentials make up first phase of plan to end teacher shortage crisis: Second phase will address teacher salary compression
Maine
Facebook: Maine BATs
Facebook Administrator - Robin Ellen Brooks
Twitter: @MaineBATs
Kennebunk-area school board apologizes to former teacher for mishandling racial incidents.
Nebraska
Facebook: Nebraska BATs
Facebook Administrator - Brittany Alexander
Twitter: @NebraskaBATs
Concerns about mental health services, state equalization aid, and teacher retention
"Nebraska State Education Association President Jenni Benson says she hopes to tackle those issues and others in the upcoming legislative session."
New Mexico
Facebook: New Mexico BATs
State Administrators - Sara Attleson and Angela Reynolds
Twitter @NewMexicoBATs
Scholarship program cultivates new teachers
Ohio
Facebook: Ohio BATs
Facebook Administrators - Brittany Alexander, Kelly Braun, Karen Linch, Mandy Jablonski, Paula Garfield, Beth Egbert, Debra Fedyna, Amber Clark, Jessica Bosak, Katie Hauer
Twitter: @OhioBATs
Ohio has no standards for how children learn health education
Rhode Island
Facebook: Rhode Island BATs
State Administrators -
Twitter @RhodeIslandBats
R.I. education chief recommends 5-year renewal for failing charter school
Texas
Facebook: Texas BATs
State Administrators - Pamela Ehrlich Smith, Gerald Savoy,
Twitter: @TxBats
Founder of shuttered charter school arrested on embezzlement charges
Washington
Facebook: WashingtonBATs
Facebook Administrators: Becca Ritchie, Susan DuFresne, Michelle Murphy Ramey, Linda Myrick, Amy Hepburn, Karen Adlum, Sheri Fingeroot Kittay
Twitter @WABATs_
Washington fighting to end EdTPA with legislation.
Wyoming
Facebook: Wyoming BATs
Facebook Administrator:
Twitter - Coming Soon!
The names and salaries of every school district employee in Wyoming will be released after a request from a state senator, a move that’s drawn criticism from educators across the state.
Arkansas
Facebook: Arkansas BATs
State Administrators - Tina Andres
Twitter: @ArkansasBATsA
Two new campuses built in Central Arkansas are under scrutiny for equity.
Delaware
Facebook: Delaware BATs
Twitter: @DelawareBATs
Experts think it’s time for education funding reform
Idaho
Facebook: Idaho BATs
Facebook Administrator - Mary Ollie and Levi Cavaner
Twitter: @IdahoBATs
Governor Little is convinced he has set the right priority, for this year and for the years to follow - reading.
Kansas
Facebook: Kansas BATs
Facebook Administrator - Anne Pritchett
Twitter: @KansasBATs
Why are Kansas schools diverting urgently needed funds from at-risk students?
Maryland
Facebook: Maryland BATs
Twitter - coming soon
Maryland Gov. Hogan announces proposals for school construction and improving low-rated schools
Mississippi
Facebook: Mississippi BATs
Facebook Administrator - Amanda Koonlaba
Twitter: @MississippiBATs
BAT Amanda Koonlaba named top 40 under 40
William Carey University to offer tuition-free master’s level class to K-12 teachers
Nevada
Facebook: Nevada BATs
Facebook Administrator - Lisa Muntean, Phil Sorenson, Stacey Wolff, Chet Miller, Cindy Darden, Sarah Sunnasy, Carmen Andrews, Mary Beth DeNigris-Franzeo, Jennifer Petrie
Twitter @NVBATs
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
RCSD layoff plan: 152 teachers, 32 non-teachers, 12 administrators and more
Oklahoma
Facebook : Oklahoma BATs
Facebook Administrator - Christa L. Taylor
Twitter: @OklahomaBATs
Tulsa Public Schools loses nearly $4 million in midyear adjustments as Epic Charter Schools picks up almost $44 million more.
South Carolina
Facebook: South Carolina BATs
Facebook Administrator - Melissa Soule
Twitter - Coming soon!
The lawyer representing a South Carolina teacher who sued her school district for requiring her to provide gift baskets and work in the school's concession stand without being paid wants to open the lawsuit to educators across the state.
Washington D.C.
Facebook: WashingtonDC.BATs
Facebook Administrators - N. Enser, Denisha Jones
Twitter @BATs_DC