“His strategy only devoured state budget resources and chewed through dollars intended for public schools, highways, social services and other vital state programs. “The reality is that states faring better than Kansas weren’t force-fed income-tax cuts as a way to generate job growth. States are rebounding post-Great Recession without the extremist policies that resulted in Kansas’ self-inflicted budget crisis.” Read more here: http://m.gctelegram.com/opinion/craving-truth-kansas-recent-job-figures-fall-short-of-a/article_ae11c7d5-03da-590d-9fd5-3fdb2ca7531e.html...
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State financial turmoil likely to pose funding challenges for SMSD
“The financial turmoil that continues to churn in Topeka as the next legislative session approaches is likely to again pose funding challenges to the Shawnee Mission School District, Superintendent Jim Hinson told the Board of Education Monday.” Read more here: http://pvpost.com/2015/11/24/smsd-board-approves-legislative-platform-as-superintendent-renews-warning-about-potential-for-withheld-funds-44976...
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Leave a Comment Yes, funding matters
The Kansas Policy Institute, the Koch-funded local “stink tank” affiliate of the State Policy Network which pushes the ALEC agenda including privatization of public schools recently sent a piece to legislators claiming that there is no correlation between funding and achievement in schools. There are multiple things wrong with their analysis (including their focus on the NAEP “proficient” category when people in the field understand that NAEP “proficiency” doesn’t equate to what is commonly understood as “proficient” but instead to a high level of achievement), but most troubling is the fact that they are feeding legislators the line...
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Leave a Comment Panel declines action on school board conflict of interest bill
Here’s some good news. “A special legislative committee agreed Friday not to recommend any changes to laws governing conflicts of interest for school board members, effectively killing a bill that was introduced during the 2015 session… “House Bill 2345 would have prohibited anyone from serving on a school board if that person is employed by another school district; has a substantial interest in any business that works with or provides services to any school district in the state; or has a spouse, sibling or other close relative who is employed in any school district or in the Kansas...
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