Daily Archive
Stories Posted on September 30, 2008
Oregon measure seeks merit-based pay for teachers
Category: Government Accountablilty · State: Oregon · Source: Forbes
- A ballot measure that aims to tie teachers' pay to their "classroom performance" is adding another round to a long-running feud between Oregon's teachers unions and conservative activist Bill Sizemore. Sizemore, a one-time gubernatorial candidate who sponsored the teachers' pay initiative and four others on the November ballot, says basing educators' salaries on merit rather than seniority would improve the quality of the state's schools. Opponents argue otherwise. Members of Parents and Teachers Know Better, a coalition of teachers unions, parent and education organizations campaigning against the measure, say that if passed the measure would lead to more standardized testing, forcing educators to "teach to the test" instead of work with individual students.
Federal judge strikes down Nev. ballot measure law
Category: Initiative and Referendum · State: Nevada · Source: San Jose Mercury News
A federal judge on Monday threw out Nevada's initiative petition requirements that attempted to compensate for different population sizes in urban and rural counties. U.S. District Court Judge Philip Pro in Las Vegas said the rules are unconstitutional and ordered Secretary of State Ross Miller not to enforce them. The ruling was not expected to affect the general election in November, when four ballot questions will be put to Nevada voters, down from about a dozen citizen initiatives that were either withdrawn by their backers or scrapped by the courts for failing to meet other requirements. Monday's ruling struck down the so-called "County Population Rule," which forced petition-gatherers to obtain signatures from 10 percent of voters in each county, rather than 10 percent statewide. The raw number of signatures required is based on turnout from the previous general election. The American Civil Liberties Union, which filed the complaint along with the Marijuana Policy Project and four individuals, complained the law gave signatures from rural voters more power than those of urban voters.
Paul Jacob Featured in Accuracy In Media Video
Category: Initiative and Referendum · State: · Source: Accuracy In Media