Priorities

The Legislature passed the education appropriations bill for 2013.  It includes a small increase in overall funding, plus growth throughout the public school system.  The DNews reported that many projects and programs weren't funded because, "(Senator Lyle) Hillyard said funding simply ran out after the ninth item on the list." So, priorities that the legislature had set below number nine simply didn't get funded.

The two big charter school items, the startup grants and the moral obligation for bonding, were prioritized as number our, just below an increase in the WPU and funding for enrollment growth. These charter priorities were even placed higher than the State Board of Education's top priorities. How does that happen? When your Association is strong enough that it rivals or surpasses the strength of the others.