We oppose Kobach’s request for the court to end its jurisdiction over the Gannon case.

“History shows that when Kansas legislators are left to their own devices, they fall back on bad habits that underfund the state’s community and neighborhood schools. That is a particular danger now, when the Republicans who run the legislative branch have made plain their desire to divert tax dollars from public education to vouchers for home and private schooling…

“A little bit of background is helpful here. The Gannon case was actually the second big lawsuit this century against the state for its underfunding of public schools. The first, known as Montoy, was filed in 1999. It dragged on for seven years before the Kansas Supreme Court terminated the case, after the Republican-controlled legislature agreed to a funding increase. The problem? State finances took a hit during the Great Recession a few years later, and legislators shirked their promises. Which is how we got the Gannon lawsuit a few years later…

“The Kansas Legislature has given little sign of being fully committed to public education — indeed, it continues to massively underfund special education costs borne by schools despite the so-far unenforced requirements of state law. The evidence suggests Kansas students and their schools benefit most when legislators are under court supervision. The case should remain open.”

Read full Op-Ed here: https://www.kansascity.com/opinion/editorials/article280624424.html?fbclid=IwAR1oepBtLe2atYRRFarCsAbdRC32SXt6rq14KeVgk8tPE4yVhcGfYJ9ZgAg

Originally posted on Facebook on Oct. 18th, 2023.