I am a senior entitled to free audit classes at our state community college. I have tried to take classes that will enhance my employability. But after two semesters, I gave up because the cost of textbooks is just horrendous. I have tried buying used books but it turned out that they are practically useless because the textbooks have key CD-ROM discs that allow the student to access online assignments and information. The publishers' websites require that the book be registered and owners of used or hand-me-down textbooks are not allowed to register. Some professors seem to be in cahoots with the publishers of such books as their assignments are almost always exclusively accessible on the website of the publishers. After calculating the costs of the textbooks of my son, I found out that according to the semester and subjects enrolled, they easily equal or often even surpass the cost of tuition in a community college.

In the past few years I have seen the quality of my children's education deteriorate as teachers and administrators try to cram more and more test prep into the school day in an effort to increase test scores. This test prep eats up valuable instruction time that could be used to teach our children skills they will actually need for college and career readiness like how to organize and write a good essay and how to evaluate information sources. Not only does the testing system provide a fundamentally flawed assessment of our schools but it also stifles teacher's creativity, essentially forcing them to teach to the test.

Wheelock School is the centerpiece and anchor of the southeast Keene neighborhood. The Keene School Board is considering plans which include closing Wheelock School. This would have a devastating affect on our neighborhood, and the families that live here. Tell the Keene School Board to keep Wheelock open!

As higher education, a 4 year college or university diploma is now being required to get many jobs (including cashier at McDonalds apparently,) it is time that America step up to the competitive edge (like Denmark,) and institute Education Grants. Money for students higher education that does not have to be repaid. This must cover the entire cost of education and housing for the duration of study. Lets get Americans competitive and educated and taking the top jobs in our own country again with out the saddle and weight of repayment.

When the Lottery was proposed, it was presented (and ultimately approved ONLY for its promise) as an income generator for Public Education. WHERE IS THAT MONEY? CERTAINLY NOT IN THE EDUCATION BUDGET. WE WANT IT WHERE IT WAS PROMISED.

TAMSA is a statewide, grassroots organization comprised of parents and other community members concerned with the overemphasis on high stakes STAAR tests and the misallocation of hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars to the tests that should be going to the classroom. Our mission is to improve public education in Texas through the use of meaningful and effective student assessments that allow for more productive classroom instruction and more efficient use of public funds.

In 2011, Governor Walker and the Republican Legislature passed a budget that contained the largest cuts to public education in Wisconsin history – $1.6 billion gone from our kids’ schools. Class sizes went up drastically. Quality after-school programs were eliminated. Good teachers were laid off. This year, the governor’s proposed budget freezes public school spending, while increasing funding for unaccountable and unproven private voucher schools. Tell Governor Walker and the state Republicans to stand up for our kids and not special interests that want to profit on the backs of our future generations.

The Ohio legislature is considering a budget bill that includes the expansion of charter schools and a "parent trigger" provision. These laws siphon money away from public education and make it easier to shut down public schools and convert them into for-profit private schools. Across the country "parent trigger" laws have not been shown to improve educational outcomes for students. All these laws do is help ALEC-backed corporations make money off of our kids.

I am a resident, tax payer, and voter within the Bethlehem Area School District. Over the last few months the BASD Board of Directors have been debating the 2013-2014 school year budget, as well as other important issues. As a resident, tax payer, and voter of the district I believe that our children's education should be the top priority of the district and especially the board of directors. It has been made very clear to "us" the public that the district, community, and our children are not Director Vidanage's top priority. He has an atrocious/embarrassing attendance record for meetings/budget hearings. In 2011, I casted my vote in favor of Mr. Vidanage, because I then believed our children would been his top priority. Since then I have been proven wrong by his lack of attendance. Mr. Vidanage shows up late to meetings, leaves early, or doesn't even bother to show up at all. By doing this he has violated his obligation to the district, students, and tax payers. In 2011, Mr. Vidanage swore an oath to "us" the tax payers and the district when he said, "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support, obey and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of this Commonwealth, and that I will discharge the duties of my office with fidelity." Since then he has violated that oath and his obligations. Therefore "we" the tax payers, parents, community, and voters ask that Mr. Vidanage resign from the Bethlehem Area School Board of Directors. If he choses not to follow the wishes of those who have elected him, then "we" ask the Board of Directors to declare Mr. Vidanage's seat abandoned/vacated.

The Arkansas Governor’s Distinguished Scholars Program grants some of the top high school students in Arkansas awards that result in full scholarships to almost every college in the state. This makes it more appealing for our best and brightest students to stay in Arkansas. Due to cuts in program funding, the Arkansas Department of Higher Education may only be able to award around 100 scholarships for the upcoming year which is down from around 300 in previous years. The State Government should be retaining our state’s top high school students, rather than surprising them in the last quarter of their senior year with cuts in funding to crucial scholarships. Hard working high school students across Arkansas have relied on the availability of this scholarship. These proposed cuts in funding communicate that years of hard work may not pay-off. It should be our priority to show our top students, the next generation of leaders in this state, that Arkansas is still a land of opportunity.

needing more money for school for travel ,books classes,tution,

Stacy Campfield is sponsoring bill SB 132 designed to improve academic performance of children who are doing poorly in school by cutting the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families received by their parents or guardians. As things like rent, utilities, and gas are fixed items in a family's budget the items most likely to be cut back when the budget is reduced are from the food and medicine areas. Many studies preformed over many years consistently established that students perform better when they are adequately fed. Years and years ago when I taught school, it was easy to spot the all around improvement--both academic and disciplinary--in children once the free breakfast was implemented, thus making it especially hard for me to comprehend how this bill would improve the academic performance of children by limiting their access to food.