Last week we shared a story about how the Kochs are attacking public education. Our experience shows us that the “education reform” the Kochs advocate has a lot more to do with minimizing the funding of public education than with actually helping students succeed. From the Washington Post, “Leaders of the network dreamed of disrupting the status quo, customizing learning and breaking the teacher unions. One initial priority is expanding educational saving accounts and developing technologies that would let parents pick and choose private classes or tutors for their kids the same way people shop on Amazon. They...
Read more
Leave a Comment Blog
KASB Breaks Down Key Points of Transportation Aid Controversy
This analysis by the KASB matches our views on the current transportation funding issue. We highly recommend it for anyone who’d like to understand it better. We particularly think constituents of Rep. Ryckman and Sens. Wagle and Denning should give it a read. “The Post Audit study also found that while results vary among districts, overall the transportation aid formula does not cover the costs of providing transportation services to students as required by law. Specifically, the auditors said: “Based on our sample, the current funding formula appears to understate the comparative cost of transporting students who live...
Read more
Leave a Comment SM Post: OP’s Denning Says Districts May Owe State Millions
First, we assert that whether they got more than authorized under the statute is more complicated than implied. The statute refers to a line of best fit but doesn’t say how to calculate it. Mr. Dennis calculated it as he was told to by a legislator at the time. Second, it is understood that funding provided is less than their actual costs, even with the “extra” districts like SMSD received. Third, that money has been spent and clawing it back would further hurt districts already unconstitutionally underfunded. We can hardly count the number of times we have found...
Read more
Leave a Comment LJ World Article on Call for Districts to Return Funds
“Rep. Larry Campbell, R-Olathe, who chairs the House K-12 Education Budget Committee, also said he thought it was unrealistic to expect districts to pay back the money. “’The money’s been spent,’ he said in an interview. “Campbell also noted that another section of the LPA report found that despite overpayments to some districts, overall state funding for transportation has not been meeting districts’ actual costs, based on a survey the auditors conducted of 16 Kansas School districts of varying sizes.” “…we are already in a situation where the state Supreme Court has said your funding is neither equitable nor...
Read more
Leave a Comment