Kansas Supreme Court

In Kansas, the Blob is worked up
24
Mar
By Bob Weeks

In Kansas, the Blob is worked up

"Education reformers have a name for the resistance: the education 'Blob.' The Blob includes the teachers unions, but also janitors and principals unions, school boards, PTA bureaucrats, local politicians and so on." (John Stossel, The Blob That Ate Children.) In Kansas, we're seeing the Blob at full activation, vigorously protecting its interests. The source of the Blob's consternation is a bill in the Kansas Legislature that would add charter schools and tax credit scholarships to the educational landscape in Kansas. (Kansas does have charter schools at present, but the law is so stacked in favor of the Blob's interests that…
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Kansas school finance lawsuit reaction
08
Mar
By Bob Weeks

Kansas school finance lawsuit reaction

Following is news coverage and reaction to the Kansas school finance lawsuit Luke Gannon, et al v. State of Kansas. Press release from Kansas Supreme Court The court declared certain school funding laws fail to provide equity in public education as required by the Kansas Constitution and returned the case to Shawnee County District Court to enforce the court's holdings. The court further ordered the three-judge panel that presided over the trial of the case to reconsider whether school funding laws provide adequacy in public education -- as also required by the constitution. ... The court set a July 1,…
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We can predict the loser in the Kansas school lawsuit
06
Mar
By Bob Weeks

We can predict the loser in the Kansas school lawsuit

No matter which side wins the Kansas school finance lawsuit, we already know who loses: Kansas schoolchildren. The last time schools won a suit, the state lowered its standards for schools. Talking about school spending is easy, even though most Kansas public school spending advocates refuse to acknowledge the totality of spending. (Or if they acknowledge the total level, they may make excuses for the spending not being effective.) Advocating for more spending is easy. It's easy because the Kansas Constitution says the state must spend on schools. Parents want more spending, and so do teachers, public employee unions, and…
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Kansas school finance lawsuit deflects from issues that could help schoolchildren
06
Feb
By Bob Weeks

Kansas school finance lawsuit deflects from issues that could help schoolchildren

Regardless of which side wins the Kansas school finance lawsuit, we know who loses: Kansas schoolchildren. Talking about school spending is easy, even though most Kansas public school spending advocates refuse to acknowledge the totality of spending. (Or if they acknowledge the total level, they may make excuses for the spending not being effective.) Advocating for more spending is easy. It's easy because the Kansas Constitution says the state must spend on schools. Parents want more spending, and so do teachers, public employee unions, and children. It's easy to want more spending on schools because anyone who doesn't is demonized…
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27
Jan
By Bob Weeks

Kansas school spending, according to the Telegram

Another Kansas newspaper editorial shows that when writing about Kansas school spending, facts are sometimes not observed. The Garden City Telegram analyzed the recent State of the State address delivered by Kansas Governor Sam Brownback. In an editorial, the newspaper wrote: "In his speech, Brownback mentioned the quest for 'world-class education' in Kansas. But during his time in office, he presided over the largest overall cut in public education funding in the state's history." (School daze, January 18, 2014) Nearby is a chart of Kansas school spending (click it for a larger version). It's adjusted for inflation. Spending is not…
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18
Jan
By Bob Weeks

Voice for Liberty Radio: Mike O’Neal, Kansas Chamber of Commerce

In this episode of WichitaLiberty Podcasts: Mike O'Neal, who is president and CEO of the Kansas Chamber of Commerce, spoke yesterday to the Wichita Pachyderm Club. A large part of his talk was on the topic of Kansas school finance and other education topics. This podcast contains that portion of his speech. O'Neal graduated from Kansas University and also its law school. He served in the Kansas House of Representatives for 28 years, with his final four years as Speaker of the House. He joined the Kansas Chamber as President and CEO in 2012 as he retired from the legislature.…
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12
Jan
By Bob Weeks

Kansas schoolchildren shortchanged by Kansas City Star

Another newspaper editorialist ignores the facts about Kansas schools. This is starting to be routine. In a collection of toasts and roasts, Kansas City Star columnist Steve Rose criticizes Kansas Governor Sam Brownback on a variety of fronts, especially on school funding: A ROAST to Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback, who led the charge for the most radical and irresponsible tax cuts in the history of Kansas and, perhaps, the entire country. One of the unfortunate victims of these cuts is education, both K-12 and higher education. The damage will be gradual, but it will be felt to be sure. Brownback…
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09
Jan
By Bob Weeks

New York Times on Kansas schools, again

The New York Times -- again -- intervenes in Kansas schools. As it did last October, the newspaper makes serious errors in its facts and recommendations. An op-ed in the New York Times is being used by the Kansas public school spending establishment as evidence for the need to increase school spending in Kansas. (What’s the Matter With Kansas’ Schools?, January 8, 2014) The authors are David Sciarra, the executive director of the Education Law Center, and Wade Henderson, president and chief executive of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. Before Kansas schoolchildren celebrate that the nation's newspaper…
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06
Jan
By Bob Weeks

Kansas education topic on ‘This Week in Kansas’

Kansas education issues were a topic on a recent segment of KAKE TV "This Week in Kansas." Opening the show, Representative Jim Ward made a small but potentially consequential mistake when he said the "legislature has violated their constitutional duty to provide for an adequate or sufficient education." The Kansas Constitution actually says this in Article 6, Section 6(b): "The legislature shall make suitable provision for finance of the educational interests of the state." It's too bad that the Kansas Constitution doesn't mandate that the state provide an "adequate or sufficient" education, as that would provide the basis for a…
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