Special interests drive Iowa education reforms

By   /  May 10, 2013  /  Accountability, Education, Ethics, Featured, Iowa, Issues, Lobbying, News, State Lobbying  /  1 Comment

federal aid

By Tushar Rae | Iowa Watchdog contributor

DES MOINES – Good intentions aren’t the only driving force behind Iowa’s education reform efforts.

State education agencies, special interest groups and for-profit education companies have spent thousands in 2012 and 2013 to hire lobbyists and pad the pockets of lawmakers who sit on key committees.

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Ed group: IL pension cost shift not a total loss to schools

By   /  May 8, 2013  /  Education, Illinois, News  /  1 Comment

classroom

By Benjamin Yount | Illinois Watchdog
SPRINGFIELD — Who should pay the cost of retirement for public school teachers, the state or the district?
On Thursday, House Speaker Mike Madigan, D-Chicago, will host a meeting for Thursday at the Illinois Capitol here to begin discussions on shifting the costs of public pensions to local districts.
“It’s clear the free lunch [...]

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No student consensus on UW System reserve flap

By   /  April 29, 2013  /  Education, Featured, Finances, Legislature, News, Politics, Scott Walker, State Government, Transparency, Wisconsin  /  No Comments

UW image

Ellie Bruecker is set to graduate next month from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, shouldering about $20,000 in student loans.

She considers herself one of the lucky ones.

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Vos pledges Legislature will freeze tuition in UW System reserve fallout

By   /  April 26, 2013  /  Accountability, Education, Featured, Finances, Legislature, News, Politics, State Budgets, Wisconsin  /  1 Comment

UW System

By M.D. Kittle | Wisconsin Reporter
MADISON – Charging that there has been a “pattern of disingenuous behavior” from University of Wisconsin System officials following an audit that found the system had hundreds of millions of dollars in reserve, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos on Friday pledged the Legislature will freeze university tuition in Wisconsin.
“This is an [...]

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Milwaukee to voucher schools: No sale

By   /  April 26, 2013  /  Accountability, Education, Featured, News, Open Records, Politics, school choice, Wisconsin  /  4 Comments

no sale

By M.D. Kittle | Wisconsin Reporter

MADISON – In January 2011, just as one of the most tumultuous sessions of the Wisconsin Legislature was getting underway, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett wrote an urgent letter to state Sen. Alberta Darling, R-River Hills.

Barrett begged the lawmaker to push forward legislation that would transfer control of vacant and underutilized Milwaukee Public Schools real estate to the city of Milwaukee.

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