State News Highlights - November

Alabama

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State Administrators - Terri Rector Michal

Twitter: @AlabamaBATs

Alabama Statewide coalition to end student hunger in Alabama awarded $500,000 grant

California

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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

The Battle Over the Future of Proposition 13 Is Underway

Florida

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

Twitter: @FLBATsA

Everyone has concerns about Gov. Desantis' plan to increase the salaries of SOME teachers.

"The Florida Education Association, the state's largest teachers union, has been quick to poke big holes in the offer, with similar criticism echoing from the union's Democratic allies in the Legislature.

Many of DeSantis' fellow Republicans also seemed to choke on the price tag of the election-year teacher spending plan, a key part of the $91.4 billion state budget proposal rolled out last Monday at the Capitol."

Illinois

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Facebook Administrator - Diane Barrett King Rener and Millisa Libey Jaycox

Twitter: @IllinoisBATs

The Illinois Association of School Boards voted against allowing Illinois schools to arm teachers and other school employees.

What Unions Everywhere Can Learn From the Chicago Teachers’ Strike’s Win

Kentucky

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State Administrators - Tiffany Benningfield Dunn and Julia Berner

Twitter: @KentuckyBATs

Kentucky Teachers to serve as grand marshals in inauguration parade, Andy Beshear says: “In my first inauguration announcement, I want to show my appreciation for our public educators, who work tirelessly, every day to improve the lives of our children and lift up our communities, and that is why I am naming them inauguration parade grand marshals."

Massachusetts

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Facebook Administrator - Amy Wolpin, Sue Doherty

Twitter: @MassBATs

The battle over education funding in Massachusetts continues.

Massachusetts’ public schools will receive their largest influx of new money since the state first established its school funding formula in 1993, under a bill signed by Gov. Charlie Baker.

Missouri

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Facebook Administrator - Anne Pritchett, Bob Minor

Twitter: @MissouriBATs

Kansas City school district can lose money from previous manipulation of student data.

New Hampshire

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Facebook Administrator: Jena DiPinto

Twitter: @NHampshireBATs

After delaying charter school money, N.H. lawmakers question DOE

North Carolina

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

Lack of NC budget leaves school construction money, other education items in limbo

Oregon

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

Twitter: @OregonBATs

Molalla teachers stand up for LGBTQ students, staff

South Dakota

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Facebook Administrator - Suzy Suzanne

Twitter: Coming Soon

Vermont

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Twitter: @VermontBATs

Vermont Vermont legislative panel looks to force State Board of Education reform with repeal

West Virginia

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Facebook Administrator - Greg Cruey

Twitter : @WVBATs

Three W.Va. educators unions aim legal challenges of omnibus education bill at charter schools

Alaska

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State Administrators - Andy Holleman and Julie Santaella

Twitter: @AlaskaBATs

Colorado

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State Administrators - William Ames Prather

Twitter: @ColoradoBATsA

Caucus of Today’s Teachers urges DCTA Fund to be more accountable to DCTA members and urges Changes in School Board Elections

Georgia

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

Twitter: @GeorgiaBATs2

Republicans may be back with bill creating school vouchers in Georgia

Districts in Georgia are developing tests to replace those currently in use. The Putnam County Consortium and the Georgia MAP Assessment Partnership are vying to create a statewide model.

Indiana

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Facebook Administrator: Cathy Sutton

Twitter: @IndianaBATs

Half the states districts closed as educators storm the capitol.

Louisiana

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Twitter: @LouisianaBATs

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

Michigan

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

Twitter: @MIBATs

Flint’s children suffer in class after years of drinking the lead-poisoned water

Montana

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Facebook Administrator - Cheryl Samson Denton

Twitter @MontanaBATs

New Jersey

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Facebook Administrators - Melissa Tomlinson, Judy Strollo

Twitter: @NJBATsA

Black kids in N.J. schools are suspended at a higher rate than white kids, data shows

North Dakota

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Facebook Administrators: Marguerite Madeleine

Pennsylvania

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State Administrators - Dana Marie

Twitter: @PennBAT

With financial incentives and extra support, Philly and Pa. plan to recruit more teachers of color

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

240 employees have left Tennessee Department of Education since February

Virginia

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

Twitter @VirginiaBATs

Kudos to the voters of Virginia and their new legislators who have not only flipped the House and Senate but have elected the first Jewish woman Speaker of the House and first Black woman as majority leader.

Wisconsin

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Facebook Administrator: Debbie Kadon

Twitter - Coming Soon!

Why Wisconsin schools teach native history and culture

Arizona

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State Administrators - Kathie Wing Larsyn and Lise Spangenthal

Twitter: @AZBatsA

Arizona charter schools get $213M in ‘Achievement District’ financing

Connecticut

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State Administrators - Jesse Turner and Rose Reyes

Twitter - Coming Soon

Connecticut Teachers report mold, rodents, and excessive heat in schools are making them, their students sick

Hawaii

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State Administrators - Mireille Christianne Ellsworth

Twitter: @HawaiiBATs

Iowa

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Facebook Administrator - Jane Balvanz

Twitter: @Iowabats

Schools in Iowa are underfunded and a special legislative session to increase funding is needed.

Maine

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Facebook Administrator - Robin Ellen Brooks

Twitter: @MaineBATs

Minnesota

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Twitter: @MNBATs1

Nebraska

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Facebook Administrator - Brittany Alexander

Twitter: @NebraskaBATs

The new SS Standards help students look at events in history from other's perspectives.

"Though both guidelines made clear that students should be able to understand different perspectives on events, the new set puts a particular emphasis on that practice — for example, comparing accounts of the expanding borders of the United States by settlers from the East, Spanish-speaking people and American Indian peoples. In Nebraska, that last point is key.”

New Mexico

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State Administrators - Sara Attleson and Angela Reynolds

Twitter @NewMexicoBATs

New Las Cruces board member doesn’t grasp public schools

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

Religious liberty bill splits Ohio classrooms

Rhode Island

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State Administrators -
Twitter @RhodeIslandBats

What does a state takeover of Providence schools mean? This agreement offers new details

Texas

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State Administrators - Pamela Ehrlich Smith, Gerald Savoy,

Twitter: @TxBats

Almost Akin to a Political Coup’: Houston Teachers Fight Back Against State Takeover of HISD

Washington

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

Twitter @WABATs_

Wyoming

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Facebook Administrator:

Twitter - Coming Soon!

Arkansas

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State Administrators - Tina Andres

Twitter: @ArkansasBATsA

Little Rock Teachers Refuse to Relive the Bad Old Days

Delaware

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Twitter: @DelawareBATs

First student representative on State Board of Education hopes to increase student input

Idaho

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Facebook Administrator - Mary Ollie and Levi Cavaner

Twitter: @IdahoBATs

Idahoans ramp up signature gathering effort for education ballot initiative that would increase funding for schools.

Kansas

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Facebook Administrator - Anne Pritchett

Twitter: @KansasBATs

Kansas teachers ask for more support from state: “We’re burned out”

Maryland

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Twitter - coming soon

Maryland education commission endorses $4 billion public school plan. Now lawmakers have to fund it.

Mississippi

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Facebook Administrator - Amanda Koonlaba

Twitter: @MississippiBATs

BAT Amanda Koonlaba named top 40 under 40

Is education being funded adequately? The answer seems to be a resounding NO.

"Each legislator present said they felt education has not been a priority in the Legislature, pointing out lawmakers have only twice fully funded MAEP, a formula the state uses to allocate funds to public education, since it was implemented in 1997."

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

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

New York City students walk out of class, pledging weekly strikes to demand school integration