The following are summaries of final action by legislatures on education-related matters.
NEBRASKA
Governor: Kay A. Orr (R)
FY 1990-91 state budget: $1.18 billion
FY 1990-91 K-12 budget: $233.6 million
FY 1988-89 K-12 budget: $207.9 million
Percent change K-12 budget: +12 percent
Highlights:
Approved statewide open-enrollment program, effective 1990-91 school year.
Set January 1999 deadline for development of new school-aid formula.
Authorized state education department to investigate and prosecute if necessary charges of improprieties, including molestation, lodged against administrators and teachers.
Earmarked $20 million in each year of biennium for teacher salaries. Governor vetoed $18-million increase in basic state aid.
Governor also vetoed bill calling for local and statewide forums on school restructuring. Measure would have provided grants for local projects.
OKLAHOMA
Governor: Henry Bellmon (R)
FY 1990 state budget: $2.7 billion
FY 1990 K-12 budget: $830.7 million
FY 1989 K-12 budget: $780.7 million
Percent change K-12 budget: +6 percent
Highlights:
Passed Oklahoma Education Challenge 2000 Act. Authorizes prekindergarten programs, expands student testing program, creates high-school-graduation competency test effective 1993, requires school “report cards.” Companion bill cre2lates citizens’ advisory panel to recommend changes in tax, school-finance systems.
Approved $750,000 in financial incentives for consolidation.
Ordered districts to use 75 percent of new state aid for teacher-salary increases.
Provided $900,000 to hire staff for state residential high school for math and science. Governor may veto related $1.5-million appropriation for math, science summer institutes at rural, regional colleges.
Approved $750,000 for programs benefiting at-risk children.
Reduced state education department budget by $1.9 million, eliminated 22 staff positions.
Banned students from smoking on school grounds, required schools to create smoking areas for adults.
Held over open-enrollment bill for further study.
TENNESSEE
Governor: Ned R. McWherter (D)
FY 1990 state budget: $8 billion
FY 1990 K-12 budget: $1.37 billion
FY 1989 K-12 budget: $1.31 billion
Percent change K-12 budget: +5 percent
Highlights:
Required local school-board members to have high-school diploma or equivalency degree.
Made fraudulent falsification of educational documents a misdemeanor.
Made possession of electronic paging devices by students evidence of drug dealing.
Denied drivers’ licenses to teenagers convicted of drug and alcohol offenses.
Defeated measures to: require appointment, rather than election, of local superintendents; raisesales tax one-half cent, use revenues for education; limit teenagers’ working hours; require school year to begin after Labor Day; create career-skills enhancement program for teachers; provide college tuition to children of teachers.
TEXAS
Governor: William P. Clements (R)
FY 1990-91 state budget: $47.4 billion
FY 1990-91 K-12 budget: $10.5 billion
FY 1988-89 K-12 budget: $10 billion
Percent change K-12 budget: +5 percent
Highlights:
New two-year school-funding formula provides districts with $450 million in additional state school aid.
Earmarked $10 million for incentive grants for districts that improve student performance.
Required students to remain inschool to qualify for a driver’s license.
Increased minimum salary forhers to $17,000.
Raised career-ladder funding to districts from $70 to $90 per student, based on average daily attendance. Districts may adopt tougher evaluation standards.
Increased compulsory attendance age from 16 to 17.
