ACTION ALERT ON TWO BILLS
Tuesday, the Senate Education Committee will work/vote on SB196 the For-Profit Charter School bill.
Have you contacted the Senate Ed Committee yet? The ALEC charter bill from last year had a hearing on 2/14/14 and is back again. Please contact committee members and urge them to vote NO on Senate Bill 196. Here is the committee email list:
Steve.Abrams@senate.ks.gov, Tom.Arpke@senate.ks.gov, Anthony.Hensley@senate.ks.gov,
Kansas already allows charter schools. This bill represents an attempt to create a new system for a rapid expansion of charter schools in Kansas, which has been attempted in other states. We have seen the results from those states, and we prefer that our legislature support the schools we already have rather than diverting funding to charter schools that will not serve all students.
This Wednesday, the Senate Ethics and Elections Committee will work/vote on SB211, which would move local spring elections to coincide with November general elections in even-numbered years.
We oppose this amended bill (see our previous post). A similar bill (HB2227) was passed out of the House Elections Committee today with 6-6 vote with the chair, Representative Schwab, breaking the tie.
Please contact the Senate Ethics and Election committee members: mitch.holmes@senate.ks.gov, michael.odonnell@senate.ks.gov