The following are summaries of governors’ budget requests for precollegiate education and final action by legislatures on education-related matters.
Governors’ Proposals
KANSAS
Governor: Joan Finney (D)
FY 1994 proposed state budget: $3.2 billion
FY 1994 proposed K-12 budget: $1.5 billion
FY 1993 K-12 budget: $1.1 billion
Percent change K-12 budget: +33 percent
Highlights:
- Budget increase reflects full implementation of 1992 school-finance-reform measure, under which the state collects and redistributes local property-tax revenues.
- House has passed a resolution that notifies the state board of education that some parts of its controversial Quality Performance Assessment system are “too vague.’'
- Constitutional amendment to strip state board of much of its power and change it from an elected to a largely appointed body has passed the House as part of Republican school-reform package.
TENNESSEE
Governor: Ned McWherter (D)
FY 1994 proposed state budget: $4.79 billion
FY 1994 proposed K-12 budget: $1.68 billion
FY 1993 K-12 budget: $1.55 billion
Percent change K-12 budget: +8 percent
Highlights:
- Governor proposed increasing funding for 21st Century Schools program by $101.9 million.
- Increase includes $53.7 million in additional aid to local districts, $36.9 million to fund construction of 2,400 technologically advanced classrooms, and $11.2 million for a new computer network linking all principals with the state education department.
Final Action
VIRGINIA
Governor: L. Douglas Wilder (D)
FY 1994 state budget: $6.8 billion
FY 1994 K-12 budget: $2.4 billion
FY 1993 K-12 budget: $2.2 billion
Percent change K-12 budget: +9 percent
Highlights:
- Legislature approved a two-year, $19 million school-funding bill to accommodate increased enrollment.
Also approved a 3 percent increase in teachers’ salaries; a $2.4 million school-reform initiative to create a new assessment system, support pilot programs, and provide staff development; and a $1.2 million school-violence initiative.
