Senate Republicans are proposing a nearly $8.8 billion spending plan for the coming year, a tiny -- 1.6 percent -- hike over current levels.

One week after a 2-2 vote by the Gilbert Unified School District governing board put into question future discussion about a budget override ballot issue, an agenda was posted showing the board will vote on the matter Wednesday night.

The Gilbert Unified School District governing board failed to approve Tuesday night future discussion about placing a budget override renewal on the November 2013 ballot.

I have to admit that this column is going to have few readers. For one thing, here is the only mention it will have of the name Jodi Arias. That’s it. Sorry.

Putting herself through school, Shayna Stevens relies heavily on student loans to pursue a degree in secondary education at Northern Arizona University.

Three Hamilton High School students are among the 20 selected for the 2013 Flinn Scholarship, an competitive and merit-based award that provides a comprehensive educational package at an Arizona public university.

Thousands of students in poorly performing public schools could soon get what amounts to a voucher from the state to go elsewhere -- or even get educated at home -- a move that could remove hundreds of millions of dollars a year from public schools.

Three term state Sen. Al Melvin announced Monday he intends to run for governor this coming year.

Gun rights

The Gilbert Unified School District expects more savings and revenues next year than anticipated, which could help the district with its expected $6 million shortfall, Superintendent Dave Allison told the governing board April 9.

Hundreds of teachers at religious schools around the state could soon be at risk of being laid off with no prospect of collecting jobless benefits.

Gilbert Unified School District and Grand Canyon University have signed an agreement to make the district one of the university's “Partners in Learning, Leading and Serving.” There are 74 districts in this program in the state.

The Arizona Board of Regents on Thursday approved tuition increases at the state's three public universities and directed staff to explore legal options to reduce tuition for some immigrants.

“A group of parents in petitioning Mesa Schools to give teachers a raise. The average teaching salary in MPS is $54,398. If teachers can’t figure out how to live on a salary that is nearly double the average salary for the general population of Mesa, how are they smart enough to teach children?”

During a recent school day in Mesa, two girls in the district’s preschool program at the Mesa Education Center practiced writing the names of their classmates at a small desk. Another group of girls “washed” their babies in a pretend tub.

The Arizona Board of Regents will start the process next month to see if there are ways that some illegal immigrant "dreamers'' can qualify for lower tuition than they now have to pay.

Arizona's higher education leaders are demanding more money from students, while also exploring legal options to reduce tuition for some immigrants.

The Gilbert Unified School District started registration this month for its 2013-14 Amanecer Preschool. The program is an integrated preschool for children with and without special needs.

Jordan Elementary School will close as a neighborhood campus at the end of the school year and become home to an early childhood education program, the Mesa Unified School District governing board decided Tuesday night.

East Valley students are invited to attend an upcoming financial aid workshop at Mesa’s new Benedictine University campus.

SALT LAKE CITY — Jorgen Sumsion spent the fall semester studying biostatistics at Brigham Young University, but he's not enrolled this semester.

Sometimes, it takes a pair of outside eyes to see what those who are closest often overlook. Such was the case last year when the East Valley Institute of Technology was touted by TIME magazine as “learning that works.” The writer traveled to Mesa, toured EVIT and saw first-hand how we prepare young people for productive, successful lives while meeting the needs of business and industry. Hearing from EVIT students made the biggest impact. Kids want to come to EVIT. They love it here.

The School of Ballet Arizona has a new scholarship for young male dancers, in honor of famed dancer and former pupil of the school, David Hallberg.

It’s been a lifelong dream of Kami Cothrun to help children with autism.