The following are summaries of final action by legislatures on education-related matters.
HAWAII
Governor: John Waihee 3rd (D)
FY 1993-1995 biennial state budget: $8.84 billion
FY 1993-1995 biennial K-12 budget: $1.48 billion
FY 1991-1993 biennial K-12 budget: $1.32 billion
Percent change K-12 budget: +12.1 percent
Highlights
- Education budget for 1994-1995 is $23.6 million above the Governor’s budget request, but $16 million below what the state education department proposed.
- Legislature approved new procedure allocating education department money in a lump sum at the start of the fiscal year rather than in quarterly allotments.
- Approved $3 million innovation-grant program that allows schools to compete for funds to develop new curricular approaches.
IDAHO
Governor: Cecil D. Andrus (D)
FY 1994 state budget: $1.84 billion
FY 1994 K-12 budget: $528 million
FY 1993 K-12 budget: $497 million
Percent change K-12 budget: +6.2 percent
Highlights
- Education budget approved by Republican-majority legislature after extensive partisan debate over education funding.
- Governor had recommended a $549 million education appropriation in a budget that included $55 million in tax increases.
- Legislature voted to cut funding for pilot education-reform project from $2 million to $1 million.
- Also allocated $3 million from state budget reserve on a one-time basis to supplement general support for schools.
NEW MEXICO
Governor: Bruce King (D)
FY 1994 state budget: $2.31 billion
FY 1994 K-12 budget: $1.13 billion
FY 1993 K-12 budget: $1.03 billion
Percent change K-12 budget: +9.7 percent
Highlights
- Legislature passed measure setting average class size of 22 students for grades 1 to 3.
- Minimum teacher salary was set at $22,000, with an average pay increase of 6 percent for those making less than $32,000 and 4 percent for those earning above that amount.
- Also approved bill to allow state education department to contract with private organizations for education of students at risk of dropping out.
Killed measures that would have allowed vouchers or tax credits for private school tuition.
