GOVERNING: State government news on politics, management & financ en-us GOVERNING magazine provides leading intelligence articles on management, policy and politics to help guide and inspire innovative leaders across state and local government. Wed, 22 May 15:20:28 PDT In Oklahoma Tornado's Wake, Many Ask How Safe Schools Were http://www.governing.com/news/state/In-Oklahoma-Tornados-Wake-Many-Ask-How-Safe-Schools-Were.html Wed, 22 May 8:8:00 PDT As rescue and recovery efforts continue in Moore, Okla., following the devastating tornado that struck Monday afternoon, attention has focused, in particular, on the schools that were hit – and in some cases, largely demolished. Colorado's New School Finance Law Depends on Tax Vote http://www.governing.com/news/state/Colorados-New-School-Finance-Law-Depends-on-Tax-Vote.html Wed, 22 May 8:3:00 PDT Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper signed into law a new school finance bill that would change the way the state doles out money for education — but only if taxpayers pass an estimated $1 billion tax increase. Education Spending Per Student Fell For First Time in 2011 http://www.governing.com/blogs/by-the-numbers/education-spending-per-pupil-declines-state-local-governments.html Tue, 21 May 22:0:00 PDT Per pupil spending fell for the first time ever in fiscal year 2011, with 21 states reporting declines. See rankings and totals for each state. New Jersey May Pay Students' Loan Debt to Live in Poor Cities http://www.governing.com/idea-center/gov-new-jersey-looks-to-college-students-for-urban-revitalization.html Fri, 17 May 12:0:00 PDT Lawmakers in New Jersey have proposed paying part of college graduates' student loans if they agree to live in cities in need of revitalization. Bill Allowing Armed Personnel in Schools Becomes Tennessee Law http://www.governing.com/news/state/Bill-Allowing-Armed-Personnel-in-Schools-Becomes-Tennessee-Law.html Fri, 17 May 8:4:00 PDT Gov. Bill Haslam has signed a bill that allows school districts to let people with police training be armed in schools. Impact of Louisiana School Voucher Ruling Beginning to Show http://www.governing.com/news/state/Impact-of-Louisiana-School-Voucher-Ruling-Beginning-to-Show.html Fri, 17 May 8:3:00 PDT As the 2013-14 funding plan boomeranged between the Legislature and the state board of education, the state education superintendent revealed that the state had to find an extra $29 million for the current school year; meanwhile, parents of students in the voucher program rallied to keep their kids enrolled. Teachers Union Sues Chicago to Stop School Closings http://www.governing.com/news/local/Teachers-Union-Sues-Chicago-to-Stop-Closings.html Thu, 16 May 8:1:00 PDT The two lawsuits, filed on behalf of parents and their special needs children, say the proposed school closings are unfair, will harm students with disabilities and are discriminatory because almost all the students affected are African-American. Will San Francisco's Kindergartener Bank Accounts Catch On? http://www.governing.com/blogs/view/gov-why-san-francisco-gave-every-kindergartener-in-public-school-a-bank-account.html Wed, 15 May 13:0:00 PDT San Francisco was the first city to create college savings accounts for every kindergartener in public school. Now other jurisdictions are contemplating a similar program. Florida Teacher Lawsuit Could Spread to Other States http://www.governing.com/blogs/view/Florida-Teacher-Lawsuit-Could-Spread-to-Other-States.html Tue, 14 May 10:0:00 PDT The lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the state's new teacher evaluation system was touted as the first of its kind, but it's unlikely to be the last. D.C. to Open Hybrid Traditional-Charter School http://www.governing.com/news/local/DC-to-Open-Hybrid-Traditional-Charter-School.html Thu, 9 May 8:8:00 PDT D.C. Schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson described the effort as a first-of-its-kind partnership that will produce neither a traditional school nor a charter school but something in between.