Pennsylvania's lawmakers and Gov. Josh Shapiro have approved a $50.1 billion state budget, ending a four-month impasse. The budget, the largest in state history, includes increased funding for public schools, investments in education, and the end of efforts to join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, with bipartisan support. However, it does not fund mass transit, and the delay has impacted counties, schools, and nonprofits.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott announces a potential breakthrough on school vouchers, claiming to have reached an agreement with House leaders, including Speaker Dade Phelan. However, Phelan stops short of confirming the deal, and other lawmakers express skepticism. Abbott's proposal would provide parents with access to around $10,400 per student for private school tuition and other educational expenses, with funding also allocated for public schools and teacher raises. The House has yet to hold a committee hearing on any voucher bill, and the special session must conclude by November 7.
As the third special legislative session in Texas nears its end, Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas House are deadlocked over a school voucher bill, with Abbott's push for education savings accounts facing opposition from a coalition of Democrats and rural Republican House members. The House unveiled a compromise proposal that includes a limited voucher program and increased spending on public education, but Abbott criticized it as "insufficient." The special session ends on November 7, and if a deal is not reached, Abbott has threatened to call a fourth special session or support pro-voucher challengers to incumbent Republicans.
The Covid-19 vaccine rollout in the US has been slow, with only about 3% of the population receiving the updated vaccines since their approval in mid-September. This is partly due to slashed funding for public education campaigns that aimed to increase awareness of the need for vaccination. The loss of a $150 million program has resulted in a lack of communication about the availability and benefits of the new vaccines. Experts believe that many Americans are unaware of the need for annual Covid-19 vaccines and the importance of boosting immunity against the virus. The lack of visibility and monitoring in the commercial vaccine distribution system further complicates the situation. Concerns are growing that vulnerable populations, such as older adults and young children, are not receiving the updated vaccines ahead of the upcoming virus season.
