Changes to the school funding formula that result in less funding for schools should be recognized as cuts regardless of what they’re called. “‘Changes in these programs could threaten equal educational opportunities across Kansas school districts and threaten the ability of local voters to enhance their local schools,’ KASB said. ‘A major reason for growth in these aid programs has been the limited funding for base state aid for Kansas classrooms.’” http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2014/dec/23/legislative-leaders-want-school-finance-overhaul/...
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Are we ready to write off those kids?
Here’s some food for thought. We have concluded that some of the pro-charter, pro-voucher, pro-privatization, anti-funding voices in Kansas agree with The Thomas B. Fordham Institute’s Mike Petrilli as he expressed in a recent NY Times column. (Here’s his original column: http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2014/12/10/are-charter-schools-cherry-picking-students/charters-can-do-whats-best-for-students-who-care.) Blogger parent Sarah Blaine expresses the same concerns we have. Do you agree? “Is it really okay to imply that public schools truly are the schools of last resort, that their highest and best purpose is to serve as dumping grounds for those students who are not good enough (or malleable enough, or terrified enough, or...
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Leave a Comment Kansas school districts prepare for LOB mail-in ballots
Watch for mail-in ballots for maintaining LOBs in districts across the state. An increase in LOB authority was part of HB 2506, and without it, many districts in Kansas would have net losses due to cuts that were made in other funding areas in that bill. Here’s an update from Lawrence: http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2014/dec/20/school-district-douglas-county-prepares-first-mail/. Here’s a link to information on the LOB and bond issue in the Shawnee Mission School District: http://www.smsd.org/LOB-Bond-Election…/Pages/default.aspx Forward us links to your local information, and we’ll share it....
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Leave a Comment Charter schools often nonprofit in name only
Even many charter schools that are “nonprofits” are run by for-profit charter management organizations. “The contracts are an example of how the charter schools sometimes cede control of public dollars to private companies that have no legal obligation to act in the best interests of the schools or taxpayers. When the agreement is with a for-profit firm like National Heritage Academies, it’s also a chance for such firms to turn taxpayer money into tidy profits. “‘It’s really just a pass-through for for-profit entities,’ said Eric Hall, an attorney in Colorado Springs who specializes in work with charter schools...
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