On February 24, 2017, all of the authors of the state-of-the-state manuscripts published in the "Journal of Education Finance" met in Cincinnati, Ohio, to participate in a roundtable discussion focused on recent legislative actions in 38 states. A majority of those papers were revised to reflect a final report on legislative actions…

A recent survey of 41 different state boards of education revealed that officials from 28 states indicate that they are experiencing teacher shortages. The shortages in some states are significant. While the teacher shortage in many states is tied to different factors, one frequently cited reason for leaving the teaching profession is low pay.…

The Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (AITSL, 2018) stipulate what teachers should know and do through each career stage. School leaders are complicit in promoting the Standards are met by all staff, including Professional Engagement (Standards Six and Seven). While the Standards emphasise content and pedagogical capacity building, we…

Across the country, districts and schools are struggling to meet the growing demand for qualified teachers. Indeed, there are some subjects--such as mathematics, science, and special education--in which nearly every state is experiencing a teacher shortage. As a result, states often turn to underqualified teachers to fill the vacuum, a problematic…

Paraeducators perform multiple roles in U.S. classrooms, including among others preparing classroom activities, working with students individually and in small groups, supporting individualized programming for students with disabilities, managing classroom behavior, and engaging with parents and communities. Yet, little research provides insights…

The Commission to Study the Adequacy and Equity of Certain Cost Components of the School Funding Formula was created in legislation crafted by the Joint Standing Committee on Education of the 126th Legislature (the "Education Committee"). The legislation was enacted as Resolve 2014, chapter 114. Creation of the Commission is the latest…

The teaching force in the United States is facing an impending crisis, one that Scherff (2008) describes as a "perfect storm," due to massive retirements, increasing impractical mandates related to the No Child Left Behind Act, and an alarmingly high teacher attrition rate. This unprecedented crisis in both the supply and retention of…

This booklet provides a history of teacher retirement benefits in the state of Texas from 1937-97, offering highlights of important state legislation related to retirement and its benefits. In 1936, Texas citizens approved an amendment to the Texas constitution establishing a retirement system for public school employees. Enacting legislation…

This report presents the Teacher Retirement System of Texas's (TRS's) strategic plan for teacher retirement in the state of Texas for the years 1999-2003. The mission of the TRS is to deliver retirement and related benefits authorized by law for members and their beneficiaries and to prudently invest and manage the assets held in trust for members…

This is a comprehensive record of a Congressional hearing on three bills dealing with teachers' pay and retirement benefits in the District of Columbia. Included is testimony on the following measures: H. R. 14662, a bill to authorize the District of Columbia to provide for increases in teachers' salaries and retirement benefits; H. R. 14400, a…

This book is intended to make Illinois educators aware of the legal and financial aspects of their job, so that they may avoid legal pitfalls and become more efficient practitioners of their profession. Based on the premise that legal and financial matters are only means to the end of providing quality education for all students, the authors…

This document gathers together the Alaska state statutes dealing specifically with education and those affecting education although not limited solely to education. Both elementary and secondary education and postsecondary education are dealt with. The topics covered include the administration of the schools; the rights and responsibilities of…

This publication highlights and explains relevant Minnesota legislative developments affecting higher education. For each bill, there is a summary provided in plain English, followed by copies of related portions of the legislation. The bills presented are: (1) Higher Education Omnibus Funding Bill (H.F. 2380); (2) Bonding Omnibus Bill (H.F.…

This document gathers together the Alaska state statutes dealing specifically with education or affecting education. Both elementary and secondary education and postsecondary education are dealt with. The topics covered include the administration of the schools; the rights and responsibilities of teachers, administrators, and students; the state…

This handbook explains the legal principles underlying the Illinois public education system, thereby providing teachers, administrators, and school board members with an understanding of the nature of the public school as a social and governmental institution. It also considers the legal status of Illinois teachers by defining their rights,…