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Helpful Information From Stand Up Blue Valley, HB2033

Gov. Kelly continues to work to stabilize Kansas’ revenue – Ask your legislators to do the same We’ve been there, done that with drastic and irresponsible tax cuts. Our public schools suffered from inadequate funding for 10 years and are just beginning to get back on level footing. We support Gov. Kelly’s rejection of the rushed piecemeal tax bill and agree with her that Kansas needs a thoughtful, big-picture vision for tax reform, starting with a study to know what the real costs would be – BEFORE enacting such legislation. Far-right legislative leadership is determined to cut taxes...
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KASB Report on School Funding

“Kansas ranked 30th among the 50 states in total funding per K-12 student in 2017, providing more than $1,500 less than the national average, according to a new report from the U.S. Census Bureau. “That gap steadily widened since 2009, when it was $311. Adjusted for inflation, Kansas per pupil funding remains below 2008. The reduction in real (inflation-adjusted) funding and the impact on student achievement is a key factor in the Gannon school finance case. In 2017, the Kansas Legislature began adding funding in response to that case. That additional funding, beginning in 2018, is not included...
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Update on Charter Schools

“Meanwhile, as the big promises about charters have remained unfulfilled, real costs have been accruing. According to school finance expert Bruce Baker, the expansion of charters has weakened traditional public schools and created inefficiencies like duplicative administrative costs. Increased competition has led to many schools, charter and otherwise, closing down — an outcome that Robert Slavin of Johns Hopkins University has called ‘very damaging to kids.’ And in places like New Orleans, where traditional public schools have been almost entirely replaced by charters, residents have expressed frustration with unelected and unrepresentative governing boards that routinely violate state transparency...
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