We’re sorry but the proposed increases in school funding in the bill that passed the House and Senate last week aren’t going to eliminate our need to advocate for much-needed additional funding. Here’s how it plays out in Wichita: “Though the exact budget totals could change, the net effect of the increased LOB funding and state base aid, minus the various funding cuts, is that Wichita may receive about $1.6 million in additional operating budget money next year, plus an additional $3.5 million for capital projects. Meanwhile, property owners in the Wichita district may receive about $10 million in...
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Republican leadership admits inaccurate talking points on teacher due process
“Faced by large numbers of teachers angered over the attack on tenure, Republicans launched a charm offensive last week seeking to convince teachers the bill is not as bad for them as they’d been led to believe by their union and pro-teacher Democratic lawmakers. However, following research and inquiries by The Eagle, the office of House Speaker Ray Merrick, R-Stilwell, conceded it had given Republican lawmakers and the news media misinformation in a statement claiming to clear up misinformation surrounding the controversial bill. Late Friday night, the speaker’s office provided The Eagle with a copy of a memo...
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Leave a Comment Education funding just got personal in Hays
This editorial was written before the bill was finalized but its message regarding the consequences of failing to restore cuts to the base shows reality in Hays: “To our state senators and representatives, understand this: This has just gotten personal in Hays USD 489. You are forcing a solid district with superb teachers and excellent outcomes to shortchange this community’s children.” http://hdnews.net/opinion/editorials/editorial040614-edit...
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Leave a Comment Huff Post explains ALEC education agenda which shows how corporate tax credit scholarships and end of teacher due process ended up in Kansas education finance bill
This is an older piece but it helps connect the dots for those of you wondering how 2 seemingly unrelated policy pieces, corporate tax credit scholarships and the elimination of due process for teachers, ended up in the Gannon equity finance bill. “Today, 17 states offer 33 programs that allow parents to use taxpayer money to send their children to private schools. This includes traditional vouchers as well as tax-credit scholarship programs that give individuals or corporations tax reductions if they donate to scholarship funds. My home state of Arizona adopted this tactic. Vouchers are only one side...
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