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District aid requests trimmed

On August 24th, the State Finance Council didn’t give any district all of the funding they requested. Instead they assigned discount percentages to the requests, including only giving funding for population growths over 2% based on Sen. Susan Wagle’s recommendation. “’You look at most businesses in Kansas,’ Wagle said, ‘whether they’re technology, whether its recreation, hotel, restaurant. Doesn’t really matter what type of business it is. They are used to accommodating with specific personnel a fluctuation in their clientele.’ “’Two percent above last year’s enrollment can easily be accommodated in the classroom I would think,’ Wagle said, ‘and...
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KCK letter to state says budget measures are cuts, not efficiencies

“It would be inaccurate to describe these cuts as ‘efficiencies;’ rather, they were cuts to programs, staff and activities that were essential to student outcomes. However, we could no longer afford them.” See this report here: http://www.kshb.com/news/state/kansas/kansas-city-kansas-public-schools-sends-letter-to-state-about-need-for-extra-funding Here’s the link to the letter: http://media.kshb.com/pdf/KCK%20Response%20to%20State%20Finance%20Council.pdf?_ga=1.22693371.1327278612.1417195414...
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Block grants not meeting districts’ students’ needs

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...
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ALEC for-profit education agenda threatens public schools in Georgia

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...
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