“Under Brownback’s leadership, public education has been assaulted. Classroom spending has fallen, while the administration tries to convince voters that money for buildings, meals, pensions and the governor’s pet projects is an increase in classroom spending. ‘When adjusted for inflation … the state’s base support for K-12 education through school district general fund budgets has declined almost $600 million,’Kansas Association of School Boards Mark Tallman explained in a detailed look at education spending. “While the rest of the country has redoubled its investment in education after the Great Recession, Kansas has sacrificed its school budgets on the altar...
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Kansas Republican party disparages Kansas parent and KNEA members
We’re not even sure where to begin with this one. First, we disagree that there were misstatements in the “troll” post in question. Second, we oppose calling teachers engaging on social media trolls. Third, the comments were actually made by a Republican Kansas parent, not a KNEA member. Baltzell pointed out that the reference to KNEA members as “trolls” comes after comments House Speaker Ray Merrick, R-Stilwell, made in June about how too many “red shirts” in the Capitol make him uncomfortable. KNEA members wore red shirts when they protested the education bill in April. Merrick’s spokeswoman later...
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Leave a Comment Brownback appoints Stegall to Kansas Supreme Court
Governor Brownback has appointed former aide Caleb Stegall to the Kansas Supreme Court. He is a former legal scholar for the Kansas Policy Institute and has publicly criticized public education funding and judicial review of public education funding. He has advocated for “school choice” and for a constitutional amendment limiting judicial review of school funding. He will be part of the panel when it decides the adequacy portion of the Gannon case. Stegall also has less than one year of experience as a judge. The Governor will now also get to appoint a new member of the Court...
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Leave a Comment Advice from NC on protecting and enhancing public education
Good advice from North Carolina where an ALEC-type assault on public education is underway. “Strong public schools are also the linchpin of prosperous economies. When companies look to invest in North Carolina, their first question is usually not about tax rates but about how good our schools and universities are and how ready our students and graduates are to take on the challenge of working in the 21st century economy. “Better schools produce better-educated students who get better-paying jobs that allow people to make a better life for their families and pay taxes for more investments in our...
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