Those who oppose increasing school funding like to compare funding and staffing now to 2005, which is before the Supreme Court ruled Kansas school funding was unconstitutionally low and ordered an increase. Montoy has not been overturned, and Gannon is pending, making comparison to 2005 (as opposed to pre-recession 2009) questionable. KASB’s Mark Tallman explains that even comparing to 2005, funding outpacing inflation is not excessive.

“Why do Kansas schools need more money if funding has exceeded inflation? Because employment costs, total enrollment and special needs students and student achievement goals are all increasing more than inflation.”

We add that those numbers also include catchup KPERS funding and bonds and interest increases that can’t be used for classroom expenses as Mr. Tallman has explained in other pieces. Read more here: http://tallmankasb.blogspot.com/2014/10/inflation-and-school-funding-why-do.html