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…
26
Jan
Must it be public schools?
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…
12
Jan
School choice in Kansas: The haves and have-nots
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…
18
Dec
Survey finds Kansans with little knowledge of school spending
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,…
02
Nov
Kansas NAEP scores for 2015
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…
09
Aug
Kansas school funding growing faster than inflation
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…
11
May
Kansas school employees, the trend
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…
24
Jan
For Kansas schools, a share of your income is the standard
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…
12
Jan
School boards in Kansas
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="https://wichitaliberty.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/School-Boards-in-Kansas-Mark-Tallman-2015-01-09.pdf"]
28
Jul
For McGinn, a liberal voting record is a tradition
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…
15
Apr
Kansas school finance reporting and opinion
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…