The following are summaries of final action by legislatures on education-related matters.
Final Action
IDAHO
Governor: Cecil B. Andrus (D)
FY 1989 state budget: $686 million
FY 1989 K-12 budget: $356 million
FY 1988 K-12 Budget: $343 million
Percent change K-12 budget: +3.8 percent
Highlights
- K-12 spending level is $6 million less than amount requested by Governor.
- Rejected proposal to repeal an investment tax credit, which would have raised state aid by as much as $15 million.
- Also defeated proposals to: create new programs for “at risk’’ children, lower dropout rate, and consolidate rural districts.
- Approved new birth-date requirements for admission to kindergarten and 1st grade, effective 1990. Now, children must be 5 for entry into kindergarten, and 6 for entry into 1st grade, by Oct. 15 of school year; new date is Aug. 15.
- Approved tuition and fee waivers at four state colleges and universities for up to 16 top students who wish to become teachers and who agree to teach in Idaho for at least two years after graduation.
MARYLAND
Governor: William Donald Schaefer (D)
FY 1989 state budget: $5.45 billion
FY 1989 K-12 budget: $1.61 billion
FY 1988 K-12 Budget: $1.53 billion
Percent change K-12 budget: +5 percent
Highlights
- $3.25 million for new school-based dropout-prevention programs.
- Consolidated governance of 11 of the state’s 13 public colleges and universities under a single, newly created board.
Turned down Governor’s plan to establish a residential high school for math and science, and a proposal initiated by the Maryland State Teachers Association to create an autonomous standards board for teaching.
