National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) for Kansas
Looking at Kansas school test scores as compared to the nation. (more…)
23
Mar
27
Jan
Dale Dennis, sage of Kansas school finance?
Is the state's leading expert on school funding truly knowledgeable, or is he untrustworthy? Recent events have found Kansas Department of Education’s Deputy Commissioner Dale Dennis in the news regarding a possible mistake or misapplication of school funds. The school spending establishment has rushed to his rescue, with Kansas National Education Association, Kansas Association of School Boards, United School Administrators of Kansas, Kansas School Superintendents Association, and American Federation of Teachers Kansas issuing a joint statement. Dale Dennis, says the statement, is "the best friend public education and the kids of Kansas have had." He is described as "the most…
19
Jan
School choice in Kansas: Some have it. Many do not.
Kansas non-profit executives work to deny low-income families the school choice opportunities that executive salaries can afford. Kansas Association of School Boards Executives and annual salaries [1. IRS Form 990 for 2014] John Heim, Executive Director $182,471 Donna Whiteman, Assistant Executive Director $120,041 Brian Jordan, Assistant Executive Director $106,568 Douglas Moeckel, Deputy Executive Director $109,425 David Shriver, Assistant Executive Director $103,845 These executives can afford to send their children to any school. Kansas National Education Association Executives and annual salaries [2. IRS Form 990 for 2015] Mark Farr, President $118,314 Claudette Johns, Executive Director $149,553 Kevin Riemann, Executive Director $139,327…
28
Dec
Year in Review: 2016
Here are highlights from Voice for Liberty for 2016. Was it a good year for the principles of individual liberty, limited government, economic freedom, and free markets in Wichita and Kansas? Also be sure to view the programs on WichitaLiberty.TV for guests like journalist, novelist, and blogger Bud Norman; Radio talk show host Joseph Ashby; David Bobb, President of Bill of Rights Institute; Heritage Foundation trade expert Bryan Riley; Radio talk show host Andy Hooser; Keen Umbehr; John Chisholm on entrepreneurship; James Rosebush, author of "True Reagan," Jonathan Williams of American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC); Gidget Southway, or Danedri Herbert;…
30
Nov
Government schools’ entitlement mentality
If the Kansas personal income grows, should school spending also rise? Kansas Policy Institute has noticed something about the Kansas public school spending establishment, in particular Kansas Association of School Boards. KPI president Dave Trabert wrote "KASB published a three-part series last week, making the case that school funding and other government spending hasn’t kept up with the growth in personal income."[1. Trabert, Dave. Government’s Entitlement Mentality -- Part 1. https://kansaspolicy.org/governments-entitlement-mentality-part-1/.] KASB believes that if Kansans' personal income rises, so too should school spending, and in proportion. This is not the first time KASB has made this argument. Last year…
03
Jun
WichitaLiberty.TV: Charter schools in Kansas, and a victory for speech and association
In this episode of WichitaLiberty.TV: Kansas has essentially no charter schools. Here’s why we need them. AFP Foundation scores a victory for free speech and association. View below, or click here to view at YouTube. Episode 120, broadcast June 5, 2016. Shownotes Kansas continues to snub school choice reform that helps the most vulnerable schoolchildren After years of low standards, Kansas schools adopt truthful standards Kansas NAEP scores for 2015 Kansas school test scores, two interactive visualizations
10
Apr
At Pachyderm: Kansas Legislature education chairs to speak
This week (April 15, 2016) the Wichita Pachyderm Club features Kansas Representative Ron Highland (Chair, House Education Committee) and Kansas Senator Steve Abrams (Chair, Senate Education Committee). Their topic is "A report from the House and Senate Education Chairmen on the 2016 Legislative Session." A new school finance bill has been introduced. Undoubtedly it will be a major topic. Background on this bill is here: Kansas Legislature: HB 2741, Creating the school district finance and student success act. Contains the text of the bill. Wichita Eagle: New proposal for Kansas school finance formula sparks worries Kansas Policy Institute: Kansas Legislature…
29
Jan
WichitaLiberty.TV: Goals for the Kansas Legislature, school choice in Kansas
In this episode of WichitaLiberty.TV: There are worthy goals the Kansas Legislature should tackle, and the need for school choice in Kansas. Episode 107, broadcast January 31, 2016. View below, or click here to view at YouTube.
27
Jan
After years of low standards, Kansas schools adopt truthful standards
In a refreshing change, Kansas schools have adopted realistic standards for students, but only after many years of evaluating students using low standards. For years Kansas schools have used low standards to evaluate students. That is, Kansas was willing to say students are "proficient" at a much lower level of performance than most other states. But now the new Kansas standards are more in line with those of other states, and present a more truthful assessment of Kansas schoolchildren. This is the finding of the EducationNext report After Common Core, States Set Rigorous Standards. EducationNext is a scholarly journal published…
27
Jan
Kansas schools and other states
A joint statement released by Kansas Association of School Boards, United School Administrators of Kansas, Kansas School Superintendents' Association, and Kansas National Education Association makes claims about Kansas public schools that aren't factual. The Kansas public school establishment is proud of Kansas schools. In a joint statement released at the start of this year's legislative session, satisfaction with schools is evident: "Our Kansas public schools are great. ... The results are there. Working with parents and communities, Kansas schools rank in the top ten nationally on every measure on reading and math tests, high school completion and college preparation." According…