Blog

Some in the legislature think K12, Inc. provides an inexpensive solution to educating children. Lawrence’s experience (and many others) tells us this is not what we want for Kansas students.http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2014/jan/13/lawrence-district-cancels-k12-inc-contract/...

“President and CEO Mike O’Neal, a former Kansas House speaker, said the chamber will jump into education issues because businesses hire public school graduates . . . [and] the chamber wants to protect massive income tax cuts enacted at the urging of Republican Gov. Sam Brownback.” The Kansas Chamber is different from many of our local Chambers and will support the massive tax cut agenda over strong public education. Kansas parents and educators, stay informed.http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/1fb2e45fa10b4229b9dfa31dc02e31de/KS–Kansas-Chamber-Agenda    ...

This is beginning to sound familiar. The governor says he supports something with wide popular support, but legislative leaders block it. We saw it most recently with higher ed funding. Brownback said he supported maintaining funding, but the legislature cut it. Is it happening again with full-day kindergarten?http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2014/jan/10/legislative-leaders-cool-brownbacks-state-funding-/ (See also,http://cjonline.com/news/2013-12-29/people-have-mixed-response-all-day-kindergarten-kansas in which House and Senate Ed Committee leaders Kasha Kelley and Steve Abrams express reservations.)...

The next time you hear we need to expand charter schools in Kansas to give “choice” to poor children, think of the examples in this story. “’This whole movement has gotten way out of control – it has morphed dramatically – especially the punditry and resultant public policy surrounding charter schooling. Sadly, I’m reaching a point where I now believe that the end result is causing more harm than good.’ Recently, Stan Karp of Rethinking Schools wrote, ‘Nearly every teacher dreams of starting a school. I know I did. But I also know the charter school movement has...