We’ve said this multiple times and find this shows that our governor and the Kansas Chamber of Commerce do not support our schools but instead throw out this worn out, refuted talking point to argue for cuts to schools and support for public funding of non-public schools. “So where did O’Neal and Brownback come up with the 55 percent? Instead of comparing classroom spending with a district’s operating budget, as the ’65 Percent Solution’ dictated and as state lawmakers said when they debated and passed the statute, they compare it with total spending, including pensions and capital expenditures...
Read more
Leave a Comment Blog
Small business owner urges support for public education
Thank you, Ed Tranin! We hope the business community joins us in getting more vocal about the impact of education cuts. “I didn’t ask for this. As a Kansas small business, I no longer pay taxes on my business profits. “I moved to Kansas 20 years ago because of the excellent schools. I no longer have children in the Blue Valley district, but I still find it painful to watch the effect of the ongoing school funding crisis. Some districts have had to shorten their school years, and all have had to cut back on programs and services....
Read more
Leave a Comment Kansas should avoid the charter school mistake
We fully anticipate seeing another ALEC charter bill to expand charters in Kansas next legislative session. Here’s part of why we’ll oppose it. “As large as the gulf can be between charter cheerleading and charter reality, it doesn’t represent the greatest danger of these schools. They have become the leading edge of a long-cherished ideological crusade by the far right to turn education into a consumer choice rather than a civic obligation. “Abandoning public schools for a free-market system eviscerates our basic obligation to support them whether our own children are in public schools, private schools or religious...
Read more
Leave a Comment Brownback exploring early childhood coordination, but what does it mean?
Pardon our skepticism, but we remember when the governor toured public elementary schools last winter saying he supported funding all-day kindergarten. That didn’t happen. Now he’s talking about early childhood education. We believe the lack of early childhood education places a higher burden on the K-12 system and misses an opportunity to help Kansas children succeed. But we want to see real progress on this issue rather than posturing. “Shannon Cotsoradis, president and chief executive officer of Kansas Action for Children in Topeka, wasn’t invited to join Brownback’s working group… “Cotsoradis said Kansas could have greater resources for...
Read more
Leave a Comment