By KATHIE DURBIN OLYMPIA - Several bills that proposed to roll back state high school graduation requirements appear to be dead for the 2008 session.

By MELANIE ASMAR A line of 50 charter school proponents snaked around the perimeter of room 207 in the Legislative Office Building, as the House Education Committee listened to supporters' pleas for more state money for the cash-strapped schools.

HARRISBURG, Pa., July 31 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Education Secretary Gerald L. Zahorchak today called on the General Assembly to re-examine the commonwealth's funding formula for cyber charter schools.

By WILL SENTELL A Senate-passed bill that would double the penalty for students who bring firearms to public schools won approval Wednesday in a House committee. Senate Bill 265 passed the House Education Committee without dissent. It faces action in the full House.

By ED SEALOVER THE GAZETTE DENVER - Gov. Bill Ritter listed educational improvements as his first priority in his Colorado Promise campaign book, but near the end of his first session in office, little has changed in the way students will learn next year.