skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Pulling back the curtains on wage-theft enforcement in MN; Trump's latest attack is on RFK, Jr; NM LGBTQ+ equality group endorses 2024 'Rock Star' candidates; Michigan's youth justice reforms: Expanded diversion, no fees.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg says rebuilding Baltimore's Key Bridge will be challenging and expensive. An Alabama Democrat flips a state legislature seat and former Connecticut senator Joe Lieberman dies at 82.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

"No Child Left Behind Law" an Added Burden for Cash Strapped Schools

play audio
Play

Wednesday, April 18, 2007   


The state's largest teacher organization is worried that South Dakota schools, already hard pressed for cash, will face an added financial burden when the No Child Left Behind law is reauthorized. Donna DeKraai with the South Dakota Education Association says the law has been a financial drag for the state and local school districts, who are trying to stay compliant at a time when education finances are drying up.

"It has never been funded correctly, and every year that it has been in place, there's been less money with No Child Left Behind."

It takes more money to accommodate class size reduction and to help rural school teachers, those teaching multiple subjects and special education instructors to become highly qualified. DeKraai points out that many South Dakota schools are already in financial crisis.

"Our school districts are going to see about a 2.5 percent increase over last year. That is not even the cost of living for what we're dealing with, just the provisions that we have to provide for in our state. If we're asked to do other things at the federal level that's just going to tax us more as to where we're going to find the funds.

DeKraai adds that, in addition to fixing the funding problem, there's a problem with measuring effectiveness. She believes standardized testing once a year doesn't accurately reflect what a child knows.

"We would like to see states be able to develop a research based accountability formula or a matrix that considers multiple measures. We'd also like to see the ability to place an accountability system that has additional measures beyond one test. We could use a portfolio or performance assessment on our students."

Currently a school can be severely penalized for not implementing the law successfully, DeKraai says it would be more effective to reward success, and move away from labeling and punishing struggling schools.



get more stories like this via email

more stories
A report from the Tennessee HealthCare Campaign recommended the federal government needs to strengthen 340B drug pricing and other federal negotiation mechanisms to make needed medicines more readily available and less expensive for hospitals to purchase and administer. (Spotmatikphoto/AdobeStock)

Health and Wellness

play sound

A recent report examined how some rural Tennessee hospitals have managed to stay afloat despite financial challenges. The report includes interviews …


Social Issues

play sound

Earlier this month, a new Arizona Public Service rate hike went into effect and one senior advocacy group said those on a fixed income may struggle …

Social Issues

play sound

Michigan recently implemented a significant juvenile justice reform package following recommendations from a task force made up of prosecutors…


Nearly 13 million Americans receive health coverage through unique plans under both Medicare and Medicaid. They are known as Dual-Eligible Special Needs Plans. (Adobe Stock)

Health and Wellness

play sound

Medicare and Medicaid are key sources of health coverage for many Americans and some people qualify for assistance under both programs. With lagging …

Social Issues

play sound

A mix of policy updates and staffing boosts has helped to put wage theft enforcement on the radar in Minnesota, and officials leading the efforts are …

More than six in 10 Americans favor keeping the abortion pill mifepristone available in the U.S. as a prescription drug, while over a third are opposed, according to a Gallup poll. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

New research shows more than six in 10 abortions in the U.S. last year were medically induced, and U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto - D-NV - is …

Social Issues

play sound

Colorado is working to boost the state's agricultural communities by getting more fresh, nutritious foods into school cafeterias - and a new online …

Social Issues

play sound

Missouri lawmakers are concerned with protecting people from the potential risks of the increasing accessibility of AI-generated images and videos…

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021