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KC Star: Why Sam Brownback is not an education governor

We agree with this editorial. “Actually, the Brownback camp is spinning a myth. “While many states have begun to replenish school funding after the recession, Kansas is held back by the devastating income tax cuts that have drained the state’s treasury without yet producing the promised economic growth. The money school districts rely on to make their payrolls, purchase classrooms supplies and meet other day-to-day expenses is $548 less on a per-student basis than it was six years ago, when funding reached a high mark. “That’s in real dollars. Adjusted for inflation, the picture looks even worse. “In...
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Game On objects to bad advice in Lawrence Journal World

A recent editorial in the Lawrence Journal World advised, “We hope Lawrence schools will fly above the politics and continue to provide the outstanding educational opportunity for which they are known. We also urge the community to support local schools through volunteering and donations either to individual schools or through the effective Lawrence Schools Foundation.” We find that advice well-intentioned but dangerous. “Kansas schools and families continue to do the best they can under the current circumstances, but to tell them to fly above the politics and to just roll up their sleeves and volunteer more and fund...
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Spalding illustrates real story behind increases in education funding

In this blog post from Reroute the Roadmap, former Johnson County legislator Sheryl Spalding points out the problems with relying on “overall” education spending without providing context. In addition to the points Ms. Spalding raises, we would like to add that many Kansas school districts have been forced to increase class sizes, shorten their school years, cut programs and/or increase fees in the past several years. They made those “choices” because classroom spending is not keeping up with the needs of Kansas children, and cuts to Base State Aid during the recession have not been restored. http://www.rerouteroadmap.org/blog#blog_post_65...
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