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Oppose SB 196 (neo-charter bill)

We testified against SB 196, a “neo-charter” bill. As this piece explains, “The short list of speakers in favor of SB 196 last week included Wade Moore, Pastor of Christian Faith Centre in Wichita, and Darlene Cornfield of the Northfield School of the Liberal Arts. Pastor Moore’s church bought the former Mueller Elementary School building last summer, and plans to turn it into the Urban Preparatory Academy of Wichita – a charter school. Northfield School is a religious institution, and advertises that their students pray together. Northfield describes its science department as a place where students ‘…renew their...
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Kansas invites Carpe Diem founder/CEO but we heed Indiana warnings

This week, the Senate and House Education Committees are set to hear from Alex Medler, VP Policy & Advocacy, National Assoc. of Charter Schools Authorizers and Rick Ogston, Founder/CEO of Carpe Diem. Are they hearing from you? Here’s what happened in Indiana after the legislature invited Carpe Diem in: “Ambassador Enterprises’ proposed contract puts it in the unique position of serving not only as landlord, but also in marketing the school. The more students it draws, the more it collects in rent, given the $1,000 per-head fee. But each student it draws from a northeast Indiana school means...
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Efficiency is important, but so are communities

“The fate of Marquette Elementary – which had nearly 130 students just a few years ago – is becoming familiar in Kansas as districts cope with declining enrollment and reduced state funding. But the dollars-and-cents reasoning behind the Smoky Valley board’s vote, which member Chris Bauer said he cast with tears in his eyes, is scant comfort to Marquette residents who fear the erosion of their community.” http://www.kansascity.com/2014/02/16/4828301/central-kansas-town-losing-last.html#storylink=cpy...
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