Opinion
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Illinois Finally Has a Budget
Opinion -On July 24, the Illinois legislature completed the state's budget for fiscal year 2005, which began July 1. The new budget raises taxes on businesses for the second year in a row, but several of the state's leading business groups feared much worse. -
In Indiana, Billboards Tell Parents, ‘You Can Choose’
Opinion -In a public awareness effort to help families in Marion County, Indiana learn how they can help their children access quality educational options, the Indianapolis-based Greater Educational Opportunities Foundation (GEO) in July unveiled its second -
Individual Student Growth Is Focus of California Analysis Model
Opinion -A new report from the San Francisco, California-based Pacific Research Institute urges the state to adopt a school accountability model focused on the progress of individual students toward meeting subject matter proficiency. -
Kerry Lags in Polls; Spending Proposals Questioned
Opinion -After the Democratic National Convention in Boston, candidate John Kerry still trailed President George W. Bush, according to a USA Today/CNN/Gallup presidential poll taken July 30 and 31. -
Key Opportunities for U.S. Farmers and Ranchers in WTO Framework for Future Progress
Opinion -Major cuts in foreign tariffs on U.S. farm exports. Expanded market access for all U.S. farm products through tariff cuts and quota expansion. -
New York Has Nation’s Highest State and Local Taxes
Opinion -No matter how you measure it, New York State is still No. 1 in combined state and local taxes, an analysis of the most recent U.S. Census Bureau data shows. -
Opponents Make a Federal Case of Arizona’s Tax Credits
Opinion -Arizona's pioneering school choice tax credits must withstand scrutiny of their constitutionality yet again--only this time those passing judgment will be federal, not state, jurists. A 5-4 majority of the U.S. -
Pledge of Allegiance Recited Intact as Schools Reopen This Fall
Opinion -As public schools begin the 2004-05 academic year, teachers and principals are free to lead millions of children in recitation of the "one nation under God" version of the Pledge of Allegiance that the nation's political leaders adopted in 1954. -
Point of View: School Choice Evidence
Opinion -Parents are seizing new opportunities to choose their children's schools through vouchers and charter schools. But does such school choice improve learning and lead to other improvements in schooling? The evidence from a variety of studies shows it does. -
Report: Sales Tax Increase Would Cut Jobs, Income in Washington State
Opinion -State of Washington voters will rule in November on a ballot initiative that would raise the state's sales tax to increase school funding. -
Resolutions Illustrate Teacher Union Views
Opinion -At the Representative Assembly of the National Education Association (NEA), New Business Item (NBI) 5 initially called on NEA to oppose the use of Professor William Sanders' value-added method of measuring student (and teacher) performance. -
School Data Now Available for Decision-Making
Opinion -The growth of the standards and assessment movement is yielding an abundance of school-level student achievement data for parents, educators, and policy makers. Several organizations provide school-level achievement information online. -
States Lower Accountability Bar to Boost Pass Rates
Opinion -Although pass rates on state exams are a key accountability provision of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), several states are weakening that component by lowering the number of correct answers required on accountability exams in order to get more -
States Lower Standards for ‘Highly Qualified’ Teachers
Opinion -Just about everyone agrees that the quality of the teacher in the classroom is by far the most important factor affecting student achievement. -
States Need a Telecom Reality Check
Opinion -Nothing spooks legislators more than the loss of tax revenue, and nothing threatens public utility commissioners more than the loss of power. VoIP--voice over Internet Protocol--does both. -
Study Reveals Wisconsin State and Local Tax Burden Is Sixth-Highest in Nation
Opinion -As the Wisconsin legislature debated tax limitations amid much confusion and political maneuvering (see "Watered-Down TABOR Bill Rushed to Committee Vote in Wisconsin"), a Washington, DC-based tax analysis group documented why such a law should be -
Tables: State and Local Taxes Per Capita and Per $1000 Personal Income, 2002
Opinion -Table 1: State and Local Taxes Per Capita, 2002 Rank State Amount 1 New York $4,645 2 Connecticut 4,373 3 New Jersey 4,038 4 Massachusetts 3721 5 Minnesota3,673 6 Maryland3,646 7 Wyoming3,644 8 Maine3,507 9 California3,440 10 -
Tax Hike Leaders Lose in Kansas GOP Primary
Opinion -Republican tax hike advocates lost several high-profile races in the August 3 Kansas primary. -
Teacher Union Gains, Losses Mean Little Membership Growth
Opinion -Figures released at this summer's annual conventions of the nation's two largest teacher unions, the National Education Association (NEA) and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), show membership increasing only slightly over the previous year. -
Teacher Unions Back Kerry
Opinion -More than six of every seven delegates to the July 3-7 Representative Assembly of the National Education Association (NEA) supported the recommendation of U.S. Senator John Kerry (D-Massachusetts) for president of the United States. The 86. -
Trade Unionist McElroy Takes Helm of AFT Labor Union
Opinion -At its July 14-17 convention in Washington DC, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) installed union secretary-treasurer Edward McElroy as president, replacing outgoing president Sandra Feldman, who did not seek reelection due to health concerns. -
U.S. Productivity Soars in Business, Slumps in Education
Opinion -Productivity in the U.S. economy soared an impressive 60 percent over the past three decades in terms of output per hour, but productivity in U.S. -
Virginia Town Reconsiders Cigarette Tax Hike
Opinion -In Clintwood, Virginia, population 1,549, businessman Randy Davis said he would move his tobacco business out of town if the Clintwood city council won't do away with a newly instituted 10 cents-per-pack cigarette tax. -
Watered-Down TABOR Bill Rushed to Committee Vote in Wisconsin
Opinion -For six years, Wisconsin State Representative Frank Lasee (R-Bellevue) has urged adoption of government spending limits as part of a constitutional amendment.
