The House passed the '14 budget today 159-15 and immediately sent it to the Senate.  The Senate had no education-related bills on the calendar today.

 

We did have committee meetings though.

 

The Academic Support Subcommittee met this morning to hear the following:

They all received a "Do Pass" in subcommittee and later from the full Committee.  They are now in Senate Rules. 

 

HB 115 was amended several times.  In the case of a school or district being on probation, if it has been accredited within the previous two years by another accrediting agency, the students are eligible for the HOPE scholarship. It was also amended to prohibit local board members from paying with public funds for litigation related to removal from office.  Senate Education & Youth Chairman Lindsey Tippins wants an Attorney General opinion on that provision.  He said he understood the reasons behind it but he is uncomfortable with the legality of it.  He did not, however, want to hold the bill up while waiting for the opinion.

 

Most school boards will never have to deal with accreditation probation and the required State Board hearing and possible removal from office, but that topic is consuming much of the news time and space and that brings the focus of the General Assembly.

 

SB 115, revising state law so the performance data for students in residential centers is reported as a separate LEA, and SB 212, adding CPR to the required health and PE high school course also received a "Do Pass."  They go on to House Rules.

 

 

Wednesday, March 13th