“It wasn’t surprising that Moody’s Investors Service issued a ‘credit negative’ warning for Kansas school districts last week. Despite claims to the contrary by GOP lawmakers and Gov. Sam Brownback, the new block-grant funding system is inadequate and inequitable.

“What’s more, continued state revenue shortfalls raise concerns about the stability of school funding…

“When it was proposed, GOP legislative leaders claimed that it would be good for schools. Sen. Ty Masterson, R-Andover, said that no school should have to cut a planned expense, arguing the block-grant system gives districts the flexibility to cover their expenses.

“But districts throughout the state had to make spending cuts to deal with rising operating costs. And unlike under the previous school-funding formula, districts aren’t getting additional money for increased enrollment or for increased numbers of at-risk students…

“Though the block grants are supposed to lock in funding to school districts for two years, the state’s revenue problems raise doubts about whether the Legislature and Brownback will keep that promise. Tax collections for the first three months of this fiscal year are already $61 million less than estimated.”

Read more here: http://www.kansas.com/opinion/editorials/article38004936.html