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But structural changes have proven a tough sell, as the state’s public education advocates have argued that Kansas’ current system has produced good results at low costs and is not in need of an overhaul so much as a vote of confidence in the form of increased funding to make up for recent cuts. “I think we’ve gotten the attention of the school groups,” [House Speaker] Merrick said. “They can get mobilized, and they have.” And it isn’t just the usual groups like the Kansas National Education Association teachers union. Heather Ousley, a mother from Merriam, mobilized herself...

The bill to prohibit Common Core Standards was defeated 7-11 with one (Grosserode) abstaining. In Kansas this was a sign reason can prevail. Now we’ll help to make sure it’s implemented properly, and the pitfalls are avoided. HB 2289, the bill that would prohibit Common Core Standards, was defeated this morning in the House Education Committee Meeting. The vote was 7 for it, 11 against it, and 1 abstaining. Common Core Standards was one thing our moderate, (true) pro-education leaders were able to save this session. Thank you Reps Lusk, Rooker, Winn, and the 8 others who voted...

VERY good news from Topeka! The charter bill was defeated in the Senate Education Committee. Since it was already defeated in the House, the bill is dead!    Voting FOR (need to hear from constituents): MELCHER, Arpke, Pyle, Abrams, Tyson. Voting against (thank): PETTEY, WOLF, Hensley, Ostmeyer, Schmidt, Kerschen....

Q: What do you call a $10 million corporate tax break with no accountability? A: Sub for Senate Bill 22. Yes, after days of debate, the House Education Committee took the contents of House Bill 2400, tweaked it, and stuffed it into a Senate Bill they gutted. There was so…me hope that HB 2400 would go down to defeat along with the special education voucher bill and the massive expansion of charter schools, each of which was defeated on a vote of 9 to 10. For some time it appeared this voucher via tuition tax credits bill would...