Kansas PTA Press Release 8/26/14
With elections right around the corner, debate over education policies has begun among the candidates. Kansas Parent Teacher Association represents over 20,000 members across the state and has been advocating for a quality public education for Kansas students since our beginning in Kansas City, KS in 1914. We continue our work today as the largest volunteer child advocacy association in the state working for all children and families.
Kansas PTA believes that every child must be provided with a well-rounded, high-quality education, which will ensure that all children have the opportunity to reach their full potential and become productive members of society. Access to a free public education is the most effective method of securing this opportunity, and should not be denied to any child.
Kansas PTA will recommend, initiate, promote and support legislation and appropriation for public schools that will ensure all children and youth in Kansas a high quality, adequately funded education.
Kansas PTA and its constituent bodies will support efforts to strengthen and improve the Kansas public school finance system, which includes legislation and policies that uphold Kansas Constitutional obligations to make suitable provision for the finance of the Kansas public schools that is equitable for every child.
Kansas PTA will support efforts to restore an equitable and balanced tax policy to maintain a reliable revenue stream for public education. A policy which draws upon a combination of income, property and sales taxes has been proven by history to be a secure and sustainable approach. Kansas PTA opposes provisions limiting the growth of government before public education is fully funded to the statutory levels.
Kansas PTA will support efforts to preserve the Kansas Constitutional infrastructure for education, including nonpartisan elections of Kansas school board members and their appointment of our Education Commissioner, as well as, retaining the primary responsibility of defining the phrase intellectual, educational, vocational and scientific improvement with the education governance structure (Kansas School Board, Kansas Department of Education, education scholars and practitioners).
Kansas PTA encourages everyone to research each candidate’s position on education issues. Those glossy ads are great but be sure you know the truth and not just the sound bites. We encourage everyone to use their voices and VOTE this November!
Tammy Bartels
Kansas PTA President
Kansas PTA