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 Kansas HB 2263 is ALEC legislation proposing special education vouchers in Kansas. Here’s a post from Northeast Indiana Friends of Public Education. We agree with it. Here is a powerful letter to Rep. Jim Lucas from our friend and public educati…on advocate, Cathy Fuentes-Rohwer: Dear Rep. Lucas, I have watched some of the proceedings in the hearings on the school voucher bill (1003) and others. In these meetings, I keep hearing you repeat the question, “Shouldn’t parents have a choice of where their children should go to school?” Let me just assure you that, yes, I do believe...

In an opinion piece submitted to the Wichita Eagle Sen. Susan Wagle says that when “paycheck protections” were enacted in Utah, union political donations dropped 75%. Prohibiting voluntary payroll deductions is not about protecting employees, its about silencing dissent. In Kansas, it’s about silencing a group that will advocate for public schools when the likes of Sen. Wagle are pushing for constitutional amendments, changes to at-risk funding and other fiscal and policy measures harmful to public education. She knows employees find it easier to check a box than to remember to write a separate check for political contributions....

This week alone, for example, [Kansas legislators] have been considering whether to prohibit the implementation of Common Core academic standards, hold back third-graders not reading at grade level, and recalculate how the state distributes funding meant to help at-risk students. It would be irresponsible to make such decisions without hearing from the experts – those from school districts and classrooms, not just from privately funded conservative think tanks.  Wichita Eagle editorial on absurdity of bill that would prohibit school districts, school boards and other public entities lobbying. http://www.kansas.com/2013/02/15/2676899/eagle-editorial-dont-mute-voices.html...

“Poverty must not be a bar to learning and learning must offer an escape from poverty.” –Lyndon B. Johnson  ...