“The bill itself is absurdly broad and would prohibit Kansas students from participating in AP, IB and other programs, curricula and tests aligned with Common Core, which is pretty much everything by now. This is not a feasible solution, ignores the work our schools and students have been doing to adapt over the past several years, usurps the role of the State Board of Education and shows an apparent lack of consultation with educators. This is not how education policy should be formed, and this bill will ultimately harm Kansas students. We hope it fails when it reaches the floor of the House and encourage people to contact their Representatives and House Speaker Ray Merrick.” [Game On for Kansas Schools response]

“SMSD spokeswoman Leigh Anne Neal said the bill was at odds with the district’s goal of preparing students for the modern workforce and higher education. ‘We are disappointed that in the midst of everything that is happening in Topeka this bill was passed out of committee,’ she said. ‘We do not believe that the components of the bill are appropriate for the students in the Shawnee Mission School District. We continue to support a rigorous, relevant curriculum and academic standards that will ensure students are career and college ready.’

Have you contacted your Representative yet? If you don’t know who your Rep is, click here and enter your address: http://openstates.org/ks/. The bill wasn’t voted on on the House floor before the turnaround date when bills passed in one chamber move to the other, but it is still alive and could end up as an amendment to another bill.

Read more NE JOCO reactions here: http://pvpost.com/2016/02/19/local-education-advocates-school-district-dismayed-by-committee-approval-of-bill-that-would-eliminate-ap-ib-courses-47599