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 Here’s more info for Sen. Smith and others who think funding doesn’t matter. This piece points out that in NJ, MD, CO, MA and elsewhere, “increased spending on basic educational resources has led to demonstrated improved achievement. Despite vast differences among states, courts enumerated a remarkably consistent list of necessary inputs, including: high quality preschool, small class size, additional services for at-risk students, supports for teachers such as professional development, curriculum supports, supplies, equipment, adequate facilities, and adequate books and other learning tools.”  http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2012/11/25/how-grossly-underfunded-are-public-schools/...

  “Where is the hard data?” Sen. Greg Smith R-Overland Park during committee review of school finance litigation claiming the recent court ruling provided no evidence that increased school funding will increase student performance. People in the East Antioch, Overland Park, Comanche, Rising Star, Mill Creek, Sunflower, Rosehill, Christa McAuliffe, SMW/Westridge, and SMS/Indian Woods attendance areas, SEN. SMITH NEEDS TO HEAR FROM YOU. You can remind him all the things SMSD has cut over the last few years. You can also remind him that we haven’t been able to show that increasing funding raises scores in Kansas, because...

A few years ago, SMSD faced over $25 million in budget cuts. At the same time, the number of SMSD students living in poverty almost tripled between 2000 and 2010. Over 1/3 of SMSD students now qualify for free and reduced lunches, the district has over 300 homeless students, and we have almost 5 times the number of ELL students as we had in 2000. Anyone who claims these numbers don’t require extra resources doesn’t deserve to be in office and doesn’t deserve to call himself or herself pro-education....

Please read this report from the Kansas Association of School Boards.  Also note the omnipresence of the Kansas Policy Institute with its misleading school funding information. http://tallmankasb.blogspot.com/2013/02/taxes-school-finance-and-kasb-testimony.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TallmanEducationReport+%28Tallman+Education+Report%29  ...