31.   But he said that state officials told city school officials that the state education department would not process the paperwork until it had a computerized system for lease claims.

32.   But legislators and state education officials say precisely the opposite is true.

33.   But some state education officials said the information used in the study, released Friday, is already dated, and steps to address some problems have been taken.

34.   By contrast, a similar plan being proposed by state education officials would gradually phase in changes to special education over seven years.

35.   Charter schools are publicly funded and privately administered schools that usually report directly to state education departments, rather than local school boards.

36.   Conspiracy theories and bitter struggles over which philosophy and ideology will set the tone of public education have resonated on state education boards throughout the country.

37.   Colorado, in particular, may well see religious conservatives become a majority on the state education board in November, she said.

38.   Currently, only state education officials can create new districts, something that rarely happens.

39.   Delaine Eastin, the state education chief, said districts that had narrowed the gap had a clear strategy for teaching English learners.

40.   DeFabio and Richard P. Mills, the state education commissioner, insisted in interviews that the new exam was at least as challenging as the old one.