“There are those in Kansas who are giddy at the idea of making up a billion-dollar deficit by ‘living within our means.’ “To them — and I am including the think tank Kansas Policy Institute, the Kansas Chamber of Commerce, the vast majority of legislators and the governor himself — this is a rare opportunity to take out the spreadsheets and just start whacking away at numbers with little regard for the consequences.” Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/steve-rose/article3939336.html#storylink=cpy...
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Lawrence schools closing graduation gap
The 2015 legislative session is coming, and with it we expect to see the continuing claim that our Kansas schools are failing. So, in addition to pointing out why we need more funding, and the dangers of the education “reforms” that will be pushed, we will also highlight some of the ways our schools are rising above their challenges. Here’s one. “The Lawrence school district is shrinking the graduation rate gap among the highest and lowest achieving groups of students, thanks to an emphasis on fine-tuning classes and curricula so the needs of disadvantaged students and students of...
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Leave a Comment Education cuts feared after revenue forecast
“State Board of Education member Janet Waugh expressed concern about the possibility of cuts in education ahead of a Wednesday meeting of the board where she expects some discussion of the state’s fiscal situation.’We just don’t have (anything) frivolous anymore. We’re down to the bare bones,’ Waugh said of Kansas schools. “Board member Carolyn Wims-Campbell also feared cuts. ‘I’m afraid they’ll look at us again for another cut since the predictions are so sad for the state of Kansas. I guess we just have to wait and see what our legislators will be able to accomplish,’ Wims-Campbell said.”...
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Leave a Comment Kansas Budget blog reports sad situation for KS advocates
“Here’s the saddest part: Everyone is now on defense. Advocates for public education, higher education, human service programs, public safety, and highways will all be working hard to defend what they have. “All of the state’s political energy will go toward figuring out how to constrict and pull back. No one will be thinking about things like offering a world-class education to Kansas students or otherwise investing in the state’s future.” http://www.kansasbudget.com/2014/11/now-its-official-kansas-budget-is.html...
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