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Thank you to Lori Rice, Kansas teacher, for speaking out and advising others to join her. “Below is my letter I will be sending to my government leaders as they start planning funding and making laws about this world I live in every day. As you write your letter, give a short background about yourself, tell about your school or classroom and tell what should be done. Be specific if you know of a bill or funding that is being considered in education. Share your voice and stand up for education.” Read her letter here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2015/01/25/teacher-to-legislators-heres-how-your-decisions-impact-my-students-every-single-day/ This advice applies...

Gov. Sam Brownback’s plan to “block grant” school funding both ignores the courts and puts fewer dollars into the classroom. It’s not “a time-out in the school finance wars,” as Brownback claimed. It’s more like a diversionary tactic. Brownback announced during his State of the State address that he wanted the Legislature to repeal the current school-finance formula and spend the next two years developing a new formula. In the meantime, he wants the state to fund schools using block grants based on current funding levels. But it turns out – surprise, surprise – that school districts wouldn’t...

Brownback said during his campaign that he would not cut spending on public education. Now, he says, the spending on K-12 education is “unsustainable.” He says schools cannot remain “untouched” in budget cuts…Many conservative legislators, like Merrick, don’t care about the impending deficit…Finally, they can shrink government — including school spending — and get what they have wanted all along. Perhaps there is a way to cut school spending and skirt the courts, as well as confuse Kansans. Brownback knows the people of Kansas would rise up if the per-pupil costs were cut any more than they already...