“Lawyers for Kansas and for dozens of school districts suing it filed briefs Friday at the Kansas Supreme Court, in what could be the final leg of a seven-year legal battle over school finance. “The state argues legislation passed early this month ratchets up annual state aid to schools by nearly $300 million over the next two years, and that should be enough to end the Gannon v. Kansas case once and for all. Download the state’s brief. “The plaintiffs, meanwhile, lay out a case for increasing funding by another $600 million on top of that. If that...
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KAC reports on building the bridge between early childhood and K-12 education
“As seen in the recent release of the 2017 KIDS COUNT Data Book, it is clear that more robust investments in public education are needed to build stronger students and a stronger state. Therefore, it is crucial that lawmakers continue to use words like “invest” and “evidence-based” to talk about education and, more specifically, early childhood. These words are much more accurate and forward-thinking than words like ‘cost’ and ‘expense.'” Read more from the KAC blog here: http://kac.org/building-the-bridge-from-early-childhood-to-k-12-education/. Originally posted on Facebook 7/1/17....
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Leave a Comment Research casts doubt on vouchers
We continue to carefully monitor research on charter and voucher programs. Studies are showing vouchers do not help recipients and may actually harm them. We oppose the use of vouchers as well as the tax credit scholarship program in Kansas. “The results are becoming apparent in study after study – from the Lubienskis’ research, the Notre Dame review, an Institute of Education Sciences study of Washington, D.C.’s Opportunity Scholarship Program, a Northwestern University study of Ohio’s voucher program and more.” Read more here: http://www.journalgazette.net/opinion/editorials/20170702/evidence-casts-doubt-on-voucher-education. Originally posted on Facebook 7/2/17....
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Leave a Comment Thank legislators for tough votes
It’s time to say thank you to our legislators! This photograph was taken after our last 60-mile walk to Topeka on March 14, 2016. At that time, our state was moving in the wrong direction, and too many legislators weren’t listening to their constituents. The 2016 primary and general elections resulted in about 1/3 of our legislators being replaced, and they went to Topeka in January knowing they had a tough job to do. In the end, they passed comprehensive tax reform and a new school funding formula. Are they perfect? No, but they are a dramatic...
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