Please share this post. Far too many Kansans hear the claims that overall funding is up and conclude that all is well with Kansas school funding. The fact remains that Base State Aid Per Pupil (BSAPP) was cut during the recession, while legislators promised it would be restored when the recession eased. Instead, we got a risky tax cut and classroom funding that is not keeping up with needs.

“Lawmakers do have discretion over general state aid, and they have chosen to let it decline. The result: classroom sizes are growing and Kansas districts are less able to competitively attract and retain high-caliber teachers.

“As the budget debates heat up, keep your eye on Base Aid Per Pupil — the gas that runs the education system. Simply maintaining the present level is not good enough, especially given that the BAPP has fallen for years while classroom sizes have grown.

“For the future of our state, our governor and legislators should be pushing the BAPP back up.” http://www.kansasbudget.com/2014/11/lawmakers-put-money-in-classroom.html