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“The failure of S.B. 169 was a success for education. We don’t need to spend $6 million on reading-instruction grants to nonprofits with potential ulterior motives. We need to spend it on the classroom. As Brownback himsel…f said, we can and we must do better by our children.” Sarah Smith Nessel, KC Star 913 Section. This excellent article explains why mandatory third grade retention is the wrong solution. Kansans beware, we have not heard the last of this bill.  http://joco913.com/news/sarah-smith-nessel-cookie-cutter-literacy-crusade-is-a-disservice-to-special-needs-kids/#storylink=cpy...

Steve Rose likes mandatory third grade retention and is pushing Senators to reconsider their decision to vote it down in the Education Committee. He thinks we should learn from Florida. KPI’s paid president has already chimed in his support in the comments section. Parents, educators, what do you think? Be sure to read the comments below this article: http://joco913.com/news/steve-rose-efforts-to-bolster-elementary-literacy-deserve-full-support/...

“Political language…is designed to make lies sound truthful…and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind.” George Orwell. Our schools are overfunded, we need a constitutional amendment so meddlesome courts don’t order the legislature to fund schools, we need a constitutional amendment so we can select judges who won’t oppose the legislature and governor, tax cuts won’t affect school funding-just a few examples of recent political language in Kansas....

 Unfortunately tax policy is very directly related to school funding. While income tax cuts are appealing, Brownback’s race to slash them is troubling, especially in light of numerous experts who have refuted Laffer’s theories (even George H. W. Bush called Laffer’s theory voodoo economics over 30 years ago). Here’s the latest: http://www2.ljworld.com/weblogs/capitol-report/2013/mar/2/itep-report-says-race-to-no-income-tax-b/...