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?...
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Teacher TED talk inspires
Game On has been called a front group for the teachers unions. We’re not. We are proud to have many teachers on the Game On team, but the majority of our leadership group and many of our greater community team members are parents and not teachers. We just understand that our teachers are an absolutely essential part of making Kansas schools great and helping Kansas children reach their potentials, and we’ve been extremely disappointed by the rhetoric and policy in Topeka that seem to be doing much more harm than good when it comes to Kansas student and...
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Leave a Comment Legislators ask districts seeking aid for efficiency data
“The Associated Press obtained a copy of the letter shortly after the state Department of Education distributed it. The letter was signed by House Speaker Ray Merrick, of Stilwell; Senate President Susan Wagle, of Wichita, and the chairmen of the Legislature’s two budget committees, Sen. Ty Masterson, of Andover, and Rep. Ron Ryckman Jr., of Olathe. “‘Specifically, please provide five ways that your school district has increased efficiencies especially those that have led to better outcomes in the classroom over the past three years,’ the letter said.” Read more here: http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2015/aug/19/kansas-schools-seeking-more-aid-asked-data/...
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Leave a Comment Wichita seeks funding for refugee students
We’re sharing this story to highlight the unique situations of different districts in Kansas. When people talk about hiring “administrative” staff, or districts wanting more funding than in years past, or cash balances, there are specifics we might not know about unless we’re personally familiar with the district. We’ve repeatedly found that higher funding needs and cash balances are explained by unusual student populations, districts serving as centers for the provision of certain services, or districts saving for future expenditures rather than borrowing. “Wichita, the state’s largest district, pointed to a growing number of refugee students as the...
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