A joint statement released by Kansas Association of School Boards, United School Administrators of Kansas, Kansas School Superintendents' Association, and Kansas National Education Association exposes the attitudes of the Kansas public school establishment. In a joint statement by the leaders of the Kansas public school establishment the clear theme is that education must be provided by public schools. Not schools in general, but public schools. There's no reason that education must be provided by government, and many reasons to keep government out of education. Across the spectrum of human activity, government provides services at high cost, with low levels of…
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. Source: IRS Form 990 for 2013] John Heim, Executive Director $158,809 Donna Whiteman, Assistant Executive Director $105,872 Can afford to send their children to any school. Kansas National Education Association Political Action Committee Executives and annual salaries [2. Source: IRS Form 990 for 2013] Karen Godfrey, President $98,234 Claudette Johns, Executive Director $125,052 Kevin Riemann, Associate Executive Director $123,143 David Schnauer, General Counsel $114,886 Marjorie Blaufuss, Staff Counsel $116,731 Mark Desetti, Director of…
As in years past, a survey finds that when Kansans are asked questions about the level of school spending, few have the correct information. From Kansas Policy Institute. Survey Finds Kansans Misled on School Spending December 14, 2015 -- Wichita -- Kansas Policy Institute released a new Survey USA Poll of 509 registered voters in Kansas showing a significant disconnect between voters' perception of Kansas school spending and true expenditures. The survey found 47% of Kansans believe per-pupil funding has dropped more than 5% in the last 5 years. Another 15% believe it has dropped less than 5%. In fact,…
Reactions to the release of National Assessment of Educational Progress scores for Kansas and the nation. Also, an interactive visualization. Results for the 2015 administration of the National Assessment of Educational Progress became available October 28. The test, sometimes called the "nation's report card," is described as "the largest nationally representative and continuing assessment of what America's students know and can do in various subject areas." The Wichita Eagle didn't have much to say on this, reporting "Results from the latest National Assessment of Educational Progress show that Kansas scores dropped in most areas since 2013, state education officials announced…
Kansas school funding has been growing much faster inflation and enrollment, but for some, it will never be enough, and they will continue to use taxpayer money to press their monetary demands, writes Dave Trabert of Kansas Policy Institute. Even by KASB standards, school operating spending is $3.9 billion ahead of inflation By Dave Trabert A recent blog post by the Kansas Association of School Boards (KASB) Associate Executive Director Mark Tallman says "Total school district funding is, in fact, at an all-time high, expected to top $6.1 billion this year" but "... the part of school funding available for…
The trend in Kansas public school employment and teacher/pupil ratios may surprise you, given the narrative presented by public schools. "More students, but fewer teachers -- Since 2009, Kansas schools have gained more than 19,000 students but have 665 fewer teachers." (Quality at Risk: Impact of Education Cuts, Kansas Center for Economic Growth) "Class sizes have increased, teachers and staff members have been laid off." (What’s the Matter With Kansas’ Schools?, New York Times) This is typical of the sentiment in Kansas -- that there are fewer teachers since Sam Brownback became governor, and that class sizes have exploded. Below…
If Kansas personal income rises but the school spending establishment doesn't get its cut, something is wrong, they say. A publication by KASB is titled "Despite increases, share of Kansans' incomes spent on public schools is at a 30-year low." In the document, KASB, the Kansas Association of School Boards, states: "According to new reports released by state agencies, total funding for Kansas school districts will exceed $6 billion for the first time this year. However, when compared to the total income of all Kansans, school spending will be at the lowest level in at least 30 years." This is…
Mark Tallman, associate executive director for advocacy at Kansas Association of School Boards addressed members and guests of the Wichita Pachyderm Club on January 9, 2015. The slides from his presentation are below. [gview file="http://wichitaliberty.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/School-Boards-in-Kansas-Mark-Tallman-2015-01-09.pdf"]
Based on votes made in the Kansas Senate, the advertising claims of Sedgwick County Commission candidate Carolyn McGinn don't match her record. In a radio advertisement, Carolyn McGinn says she is conservative. In a mailer, she touts her "fiscal conservative leadership" in the Kansas Senate. But voting records don't match these claims. Several voting scorecards in recent years show Senator McGinn ranking low in terms of voting for economic freedom issues. These issues generally concern taxation, wasteful spending, and unnecessary regulation. In recent years, a freedom index has been produced by Kansas Policy Institute. In 2012 the Kansas Economic Freedom…
There's a range of opinion, that's for sure. Republicans concede bill would let teachers be fired without cause (Wichita Eagle) "Statehouse Republicans are having to abandon a key talking point in their effort to defuse teacher anger over an anti-tenure bill the Legislature passed a week ago, conceding the bill would allow school districts to fire veteran teachers without having to give a reason why. If Gov. Sam Brownback signs the bill into law, teachers would essentially be at-will employees of their school districts and able to challenge termination only if they allege the firing violates their constitutional rights." Click…
