BAT State News - August

Alabama

State Administrators - Terri Rector Michal

“[Governor] Ivey has set a goal to add 500,000 highly skilled Alabamians to the workforce by 2025. Attaining that goal involves aligning programs offered at Alabama’s high schools, community colleges and adult education programs with paths to those high-demand career fields.”

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

Documents show the actual plans of California charter school leaders.

Florida

Facebook: Florida BATs

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

Twitter: @FLBATsA

Ed activists, parents, and teachers are rallying before the state Board of Education meetings to show their support for traditional public schools.

Illinois

Facebook: Illinois BATs

Facebook Administrator - Diane Barrett King Rener and Millisa Libey Jaycox

Twitter: @IllinoisBATs

Governor JB Pritzker signs LGBTQ curriculum bill into law.

New law requires high-school students to complete FAFSA.

State Board of Education releases new world languages standards.

Kentucky

Facebook: Kentucky BATS

State Administrators - Tiffany Benningfield Dunn and Julia Berner

Twitter: @KentuckyBATs

Kentucky finds 1,000 teachers violated law during 'sickouts'.

Kentucky has one of the top 10 best early education systems in America.

Massachusetts

Facebook: Massachusetts BATs

Facebook Administrator - Amy Wolpin, Sue Doherty

Twitter: @MassBATs

Massachusetts Legislators ended their session last week without resolution on education funding reform, leaving questions.

Missouri

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Facebook Administrator - Anne Pritchett, Bob Minor

Twitter: @MissouriBATs

Lee’s Summit teachers protest required district meeting at anti-gay church - and win

New Hampshire

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Facebook Administrator: Jena DiPinto

Twitter: @NHampshireBATs

Budget impasse: impact on education explored in NH

North Carolina

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

Governor vetoes virtual charter expansion.

Oregon

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

Twitter: @OregonBATs

Oregon Rep. Mike Nearman hired to head the state chapter of the anti-union group, The Freedom Foundation, while keeping his legislative seat

A coalition of public employee unions, including the Oregon Education Association, is suing to retain pension benefits for workers.

South Dakota

Facebook: South Dakota BATs

Facebook Administrator - Suzy Suzanne

Twitter: Coming Soon

Vermont

Facebook: Vermont BATs

Twitter: @VermontBATs

Vermont schools need upgrades but are unable to secure funding

West Virginia

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Facebook Administrator - Greg Cruey

Twitter : @WVBATs

Recent report about the devastating effects of school closures on communities in West Virginia

Alaska

Facebook: Alaska BATs

State Administrators - Andy Holleman and Julie Santaella

Twitter: @AlaskaBATs

announced

“At a Head Start classroom in Anchorage on Tuesday morning, Gov. Mike Dunleavy announced he will restore $8.8 million in funding for early education services, reversing vetoes he made in June to the Legislature’s operating budget bill.”

Colorado

Facebook: Colorado BATs

State Administrators - William Ames Prather

Twitter: @ColoradoBATsA

The state board of education in Colorado has decided to turn over schools in three districts to a for-profit management corporation that claims it can turn the schools around, at a cost of millions of dollars.

Georgia

Facebook: Georgia BATs

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

Twitter: @GeorgiaBATs2

Recent report highlighting funding in Georgia released.
”…Georgia is one of only eight states in the nation that do not account for the disproportionate challenges faced by students living in poverty with additional funding.

Indiana

Facebook: Indiana BATs

Facebook Administrator: Cathy Sutton

Twitter: @IndianaBATs

More than 100 teachers spent several hours of a school night at a listening session designed for the public to share ideas on how best to raise teacher pay in Indiana, as it lags behind neighboring states and educators continue to see their wages stagnate.

Louisiana

Facebook: Louisiana BATs

Twitter: @LouisianaBATs

La. PAC that was used to funnel $3M in Out-of-State Billionaire Cash into 2015 BESE election disbands.

Michigan

Facebook: Michigan BATs

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

Twitter: @MIBATs

New State Supt of Schools Interview

Republican majority Legislature gave themselves the summer off... refusing to work on the budget before school starts. The current plan removes funding from the budget to fix roads

Montana

Facebook: Montana BATs

Facebook Administrator - Cheryl Samson Denton

Twitter @MontanaBATs

The battle over early education in Montana

New Jersey

Facebook: New Jersey BATs

Facebook Administrators - Melissa Tomlinson, Judy Strollo

Twitter: @NJBATsA

NJ BATs participated in a protest in Toms River to demand the resignation of xenophopic school board member

North Dakota

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Facebook Administrators: Marguerite Madeleine

Student information exposed in data breach.

Pennsylvania

Facebook: Pennsylvania BATs

State Administrators - Dana Marie

Twitter: @PennBAT

The Super of Eastern Lancaster SD won't discipline students in accordance with the new Biological Sex Policy. The ACLU of PA says the policy won't likely survive a court challenge.

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

A Tennessee Farm Grows A New Generation Of Social Justice Activists

Virginia

Facebook: Virginia BATs

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

Twitter @VirginiaBATs

Since 2008, Virginia’s schools have increased enrollment by 55,000 students, with few increases in staffing levels

Wisconsin

Facebook: Wisconsin BATs

Facebook Administrator: Debbie Kadon

Twitter - Coming Soon!

A decline in teacher candidates has led to schools asking students to consider education as a career

Arizona

Facebook: Arizona BATs

State Administrators - Kathie Wing Larsyn and Lise Spangenthal

Twitter: @AZBatsA

“Educators say Arizona needs to spend another billion dollars just to get near the national average. "We spend less on students than we did in 2008," Arizona Education Association President Joe Thomas says. "What needs to happen more than anything is someone in this state needs to listen to teachers."”

Connecticut

Facebook: Connecticut BATs

State Administrators - Jesse Turner and Rose Reyes

Twitter - Coming Soon

As visiting Proyecto Cordero Belpre fellows, #WindhamUnited leader and BAT, Rose Reyes with #PublicEd professionals from the mainland joined protestors of "all ages and shades" for the history-making uprising on #PuertoRico.

Hawaii

Facebook: Hawaii BATs

State Administrators - Mireille Christianne Ellsworth

Twitter: @HawaiiBATs

Youth will be participating in the climate strike on September 20th.

Iowa

Facebook: Iowa BATs

Facebook Administrator - Jane Balvanz

Twitter: @Iowabats

The State Board of Education is now requiring all new school buses in Iowa school districts to have seat belts.

Maine

Facebook: Maine BATs

Facebook Administrator - Robin Ellen Brooks

Twitter: @MaineBATs

Teacher certification in Maine - not an easy task.

Minnesota

Facebook: Minnesota BATs

Twitter: @MNBATs1

St. Paul teachers and district could be headed to court over a health insurance dispute.

Nebraska

Facebook: Nebraska BATs

Facebook Administrator - Brittany Alexander

Twitter: @NebraskaBATs

With resources for public education already stretched thin, Benson said NSEA is opposed to the idea of introducing charter schools and voucher programs in Nebraska

New Mexico

Facebook: New Mexico BATs

State Administrators - Sara Attleson and Angela Reynolds

Twitter @NewMexicoBATs

Albuquerque teachers get a raise with the ratification of a new contract.

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

A breakdown of Ohio’s new high school graduation requirements

Rhode Island

Facebook: Rhode Island BATs

State Administrators -
Twitter @RhodeIslandBats

Rhode Island: Before the start of the school year, RI education commissioner tours Providence school buildings, mentions charter schools

Texas

Facebook: Texas BATs

State Administrators - Pamela Ehrlich Smith, Gerald Savoy, Idanis Ramos

Twitter: @TxBats

The state eyes Houston Independent School District for a state takeover while Houston Federation of Teachers president Zeph Capo emphasizes the need for local voters to be able to take action to remove the current board of trustees.

Washington

Facebook: WashingtonBATs

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

Twitter @WABATs_

Seattle teachers rallied for contract demands that included racial equity, more nurses, counselors, and family service workers

Wyoming

Facebook: Wyoming BATs

Facebook Administrator:

Twitter - Coming Soon!

Arkansas

Facebook: Arkansas BATs

State Administrators - Tina Andres

Twitter: @ArkansasBATsA

“Members of the Arkansas Board of Education will host three public forums beginning [8/20/2019] and going through early September regarding the status and future of the state-controlled Little Rock School District.”

Delaware

Facebook: Delaware BATs

Twitter: @DelawareBATs

The Indian River School District has received $2.2 million from the state of Delaware to help its English Learners and low-income students.

Teens learn the ropes of Delaware education, using their voice for change.

Idaho

Facebook: Idaho BATs

Facebook Administrator - Mary Ollie and Levi Cavaner

Twitter: @IdahoBATs

“Idaho Education News and the Idaho Statesman are teaming up to explore why Latinos lag behind other students in Idaho — and where the state’s education system is failing them.”

Kansas

Facebook: Kansas BATs

Facebook Administrator - Anne Pritchett

Twitter: @KansasBATs

“Kansas education officials are expressing concern that many motorists are ignoring a state law that requires them to stop when approaching a stopped school bus that is loading or unloading children. A recent survey found 1,040 motorists illegally passed school buses in Kansas during a one-day test in April.”

Maryland

Facebook: Maryland BATs

Twitter - coming soon

Maryland school officials are developing curriculum standards for history classes to include lessons about the fight for civil rights for the LGBT community and Americans with disabilities.

Mississippi

Facebook: Mississippi BATs

Facebook Administrator - Amanda Koonlaba

Twitter: @MississippiBATs

Mississippi education officials are taking another step toward scrapping a now-required U.S. history test.

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

CCSD teachers vacancies at a four year high

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

Oklahoma

Facebook : Oklahoma BATs

Facebook Administrator - Christa L. Taylor

Twitter: @OklahomaBATs

Epic Charter Schools, currently under investigation for embezzlement and fraud, trails statewide averages on all 14 state tests for students in grades three to eight.