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We knew. “So locking in funding for two years – though it’s more stable and certain for the state – isn’t meeting districts’ needs in a time of increasing enrollments and instruction, transportation, health and utility costs. “Who knew? “Superintendents, school boards, teachers and other education leaders did. “But they were not part of the secretive, hurried work of writing the block-grant funding bill in March before its limited vetting and rushed passage, including the disgraceful two hours during which the House waited as the state plane was sent to pick up a ‘yes’ voter… “Meanwhile, Brownback continues...

In Kansas we’ve most recently had the ALEC corporate tax credit scholarship bill, in Georgia, it’s the Opportunity School District. While we wait to see which ALEC education bill will come next to Kansas, we’re watching what’s happening in other states with heavy ALEC influence. Here’s a report from a conservative legislator in Georgia. “First, we have learned about ALEC, a hideous national legislative-steering organization where lobbyists, private interests, and legislators craft legislation behind closed doors. There is no sunlight on this entity. There is no accountability. Participants are back-room puppet masters controlling the local and national political...

Is this kind of charter fiasco coming to Kansas? Not if we can help it. The charter school model has undergone a huge transformation from its original form, and we are carefully watching states that have made it too easy to open and to hard to close charters while destabilizing public schools.  There are Kansas legislators and lobbyists pushing for this for Kansas. Here’s a recap of what’s going on in Ohio. As students throughout Ohio head back to the classroom, it’s time to take the first test of the new school year. Q: What’s significant about 117,730?...