Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce’s Post

#communitycolleges-Potential Budget Cuts and their consequences. Your thoughts on the following questions: Is it too late to implement innovative ideas? Are the solutions and implementations unique to each community college? Can the “existing culture” allow us to adapt to recent changes induced by AI, budget cuts, etc?

Ohio's EdChoice-Expansion sparks a surge in private school scholarships, but the catch? Most recipients never attended public schools, challenging the "public school exodus" narrative. Now, taxpayer dollars are subsidizing tuition for families who can afford it. Dive into the details below in ACS' Latest News!

We are thrilled to share the groundbreaking announcement made by Governor Maura Healey and Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll last week. A historic expansion of financial aid, the MASSGrant Plus Expansion program, is set to transform the educational landscape for approximately 25,000 students attending the state’s public colleges and universities. With nearly $62 million in new program funding, MASSGrant Plus Expansion is a game-changer for students, covering the total cost of tuition and fees for Pell Grant-eligible individuals. As an added bonus, students will also receive an additional allowance of up to $1,200 for books and supplies. This transformative change is not just a number; it represents the removal of financial barriers for countless ambitious students. As we celebrate this remarkable initiative, it's worth noting that as many as 2,000 students currently enrolled at Northern Essex could directly benefit from this substantial expansion. Kudos to Governor Maura Healey, Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, and all those involved in making education more accessible and equitable. This is a testament to the commitment to empowering the next generation of leaders and ensuring that financial constraints are no longer a roadblock to their success. https://necc.be/47nfILZ

AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE ABOUT HOW YOU CAN ADVOCATE FOR COLLEGE AFFORDABILITY FROM WHITTIER COLLEGE'S INTERIM PRESIDENT: Now that the lawmakers on Capitol Hill are getting back to work, I write about an urgent student aid matter that affects us deeply at Whittier College. The House and Senate appear ready to slash funding for Federal Work-Study (FWS) and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG). The cutting or elimination of these programs would hamstring present and future students at Whittier and across the country. Specifically, the proposed cuts will make college more expensive for low-income students. While the Pell Grant program is protected, these aid programs that supplement the Pell are an essential ingredient for low-income students paying for college. Furthermore, there is no replacement for eliminating these critical campus-based programs. Students will be forced to borrow in the private market or drop out of college. If each of us takes a few minutes to contact our congressional representatives using this Student Aid Alliance tool [below] asking to keep these programs off the chopping block, we will be doing a great service to current and prospective Whittier students. https://lnkd.in/gvv2Mu9n Go Poets! Kristine E. Dillon ’73, Ph.D.

Ninety-five years. That’s the age of the original structure we know as Midland High School. The site predates the invention of the microwave oven, Scotch tape, and — yes — even sliced bread. The first students who attended school there in 1928 didn’t know about walkie-talkies, power steering, or kitty litter because they hadn’t been invented yet. Over the years, opponents to school bonds have forgone opportunities to build new schools and invest in the future of Midland. Because these proposals were deemed imperfect, they were all shot down. Our high schools are now overcrowded, aging, and insufficient. Saying no for decades has created our educational emergency. A two-year planning process, involving a diverse group of community members, developed this bond proposal. This proposal will build larger and improved versions of MHS and LHS to accommodate our growing population and facilitate students’ needs for decades to come. A community of more than 140,000 people will never agree on what a perfect bond looks like, but we can come together on a great one. This one. Read more here bit.ly/MRTArticle and visit midlandbond2023.com for more information on the bond proposal. Deadline to register to vote: October 10 Early voting starts: October 23 Election day: November 7

**Virginia’s education funding does not meet required needs, per new state report** An important report on public education funding in Virginia was just released by our state General Assembly and finds that: • Funding for VA schools is below national and regional averages • Virginia students receive less funding than estimated needs • Funding formulas don't meet what's needed in actual practice Read my summary for more of these sobering details: https://lnkd.in/eRwvxMCh

"According to the Center for Education Reform’s new Parent Power Index, New Jersey has something to celebrate: the State Legislature took a big step towards equitable funding for public charter schools by passing a new law, the 'Public Charter and Renaissance School Facilities Loan Program,' that, says CEF, will 'allow charter schools located in specific school districts [to] access loans to make critical upgrades to facilities, start major construction projects, or perform much needed renovation and rehabilitation efforts on buildings.'" Learn more at NJ Education Report: Three Cheers For Parent Power in New Jersey, Says New Index https://lnkd.in/esp78X8v #NJEdReport #NJSchools #LauraWaters #NJPCSA

When it comes to determining which schools correlate more to price growth, note the following: 💡 The ranking of public schools is more important than The ranking of private schools. I guess this makes sense since you can pay 1 million for a property next to a good public school While saving $50k on private school fees. #amenities #realestateinvesting 

This year's landmark school funding decision was clear: Pennsylvania's way of paying for public education isn't working. Less evident is how Pennsylvania's school funding actually works — and why so many schools are underfunded. Despite a 2016 state funding formula meant to level the playing field, gaps remain between rich and poor districts. And according to testimony presented in the court case, more than 80% of districts don’t have enough money to educate their students well. To understand the problems, let’s look at districts with very different funding levels. Start by selecting any Pennsylvania school district you want: Enter a district Philadelphia School District is underfunded. It ranks 232nd in per-student spending out of 499 districts in Pennsylvania. Now we’ll explain how that funding was determined – by comparing your district with the Methacton School District in Montgomery County and the similarly sized William Penn School District in Delaware County, one of the plaintiffs in the school funding lawsuit. https://lnkd.in/eGTfMMN2

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