The Kansas Supreme Court has once again found school funding unconstitutional with respect to adequacy and equity. Read the opinion here: http://www.kscourts.org/Cases-and-Opinions/opinions/SupCt/2017/20171002/113267.pdf. Here are some key quotes from the opinion. “Including today’s decision, by our count inadequacy has been judicially declared to exist from school years 2002-2003 through 2018-2019, with the possible exception of three years of ‘substantial compliance’ for ‘interim purposes.’…With that regrettable history in mind, while we stay the issuance of today’s mandate through June 30, 2018, after that date we will not allow ourselves to be placed in the position of being complicit actors in the...
Read more
Leave a Comment Blog
Briefs filed in school funding litigation
“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...
Read more
Leave a Comment 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....
Read more
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....
Read more
Leave a Comment