Kansas school district superintendents write “Historically, our state has had high-performing schools, which make Kansas a great place to live, raise a family and run a business.” The truth is that when compared to other states, Kansas has low standards.
Archive of posts tagged Education
Kansans uninformed on school spending
As the Kansas Legislature debates spending on schools, we have to hope that legislators are more knowledgeable about school spending than the average Kansan. Surveys have found that few Kansans have accurate information regarding school spending. Surprisingly, those with children in the public school system are even more likely to be uninformed regarding accurate figures. But when presented with accurate information about changes in school spending, few Kansans are willing to pay increased taxes to support more school spending.
Kansas school test scores
Kansas scores on the nationwide NAEP tests are unchanged or falling at the same time scores on Kansas tests are rising — “jumping,” in the recent words of Kansas Education Commissioner Diane DeBacker.
Wichita teacher labor kerfuffle illustrates the problem
A dispute over teacher working conditions in USD 259, the Wichita public school district, provides a window into the workings of the public school system and its problems. There is a way out, but it’s not happening in Kansas.
Worried About School Funding, Most Favor Tax Increase—For the Rich
By the Public Policy Institute of California
California’s likely voters favor raising the state income taxes of the wealthiest state residents to provide more money for public schools, but most oppose increasing the state sales tax for this purpose….
Zoning The Poor Out of Good Schools
By Peter Schrag
Most of us have long known that in places like Oakland and Berkeley, and probably in a lot of other cities as well, the easiest way to predict a school’s test scores is by the altitude of the building.
The higher up the school, the m…
Molly Munger’s Multi-Million-Dollar Bet
By Peter Schrag
With the $2.1 million she plunked into her school tax initiative campaign last week, Molly Munger is now in for about $6 million and, she says, prepared to spend a lot more.
The conventional political wisdom maintains that Munger, a Lo…
