Kansas Education Funding
Kansas governor Sam Brownback, and his supporters in the state legislature, are attempting a one-two punch at a recent judicial ruling concerning public education funding. Rather than respect the ruling, and increase funding, the Brownback-backed group has stated they will attempt to change the way judges are selected in the state, as well as change the state constitution in regards to funding K-12 education. They may well be successful, but Kansas students are the ones who will suffer.
During the recent recession, state funding was cut to public schools. In addition, the governor and like-minded legislators have passed tax cuts that will ensure further decreases in educational funding.
The recent ruling, on behalf on a three-judge panel Shawnee county court, stated in response to a lawsuit on behalf of students, parents and various school districts, that the legislature was not funding education sufficiently to met the obligation, stated in the state constitution, to suitably fund schools. The state Supreme Court has earlier ruled that the state constitution requires legislators to provide for a suitable education for every student. Rather than accept the rulings, the governor and his followers have opted to continue to fight the lawsuit in the courts. In addition, they will attempt to change the way judges are selected and change the constitution to read “The financing of the educational interests of the state is exclusively a legislative power (and) shall be established solely by the Legislature.”
This will, apparently in the legislators' minds, remove the Kansas judicial branch from educational funding decisions - something that is doubtful at best.
In my opinion, the governor and the legislature should respect the ruling and fund the education system adequately, as well as stop trying to stack the court and change the constitution. Kansas K-12 education is not funded sufficiently to provide high quality, 21st century instruction and training.
During the recent recession, state funding was cut to public schools. In addition, the governor and like-minded legislators have passed tax cuts that will ensure further decreases in educational funding.
The recent ruling, on behalf on a three-judge panel Shawnee county court, stated in response to a lawsuit on behalf of students, parents and various school districts, that the legislature was not funding education sufficiently to met the obligation, stated in the state constitution, to suitably fund schools. The state Supreme Court has earlier ruled that the state constitution requires legislators to provide for a suitable education for every student. Rather than accept the rulings, the governor and his followers have opted to continue to fight the lawsuit in the courts. In addition, they will attempt to change the way judges are selected and change the constitution to read “The financing of the educational interests of the state is exclusively a legislative power (and) shall be established solely by the Legislature.”
This will, apparently in the legislators' minds, remove the Kansas judicial branch from educational funding decisions - something that is doubtful at best.
In my opinion, the governor and the legislature should respect the ruling and fund the education system adequately, as well as stop trying to stack the court and change the constitution. Kansas K-12 education is not funded sufficiently to provide high quality, 21st century instruction and training.
posted by dlh | 7:39 AM
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