Issue Position: Education

Issue Position

SCHOOLS
School funding is based upon a decades old formula containing few safeguards regarding fiscal accountability and student achievement. It does, however, contain a litany of special funding triggers that require large increases regardless of the ability of Kansas taxpayers to fund them. An eye-popping statistic regarding school
funding is that less than 65% of funds, on average, ever make it into the classroom to benefit students. We can and should do better.
During the recent economic downturn, the state chose to delay automatic education funding increases, rather than raise taxes on already hard-pressed Kansas families. School administrators immediately sued Kansas taxpayers to extract the funds. A state court recently issued a ruling that, if implemented, will require a $600 million property tax increase on Kansas families. Attorney General Derek Schmidt has pledged to appeal the decision, protecting Kansas families from this financial devastation.
The Legislature will revisit the formula to identify greater efficiencies and establish a regime of accountability, both in how tax dollars are spent and in the expected outcomes achieved. This is not "cutting education." On the contrary, we must ensure that Kansas kids actually receive the greatest benefit from every education dollar spent. Education Week magazine just released a study showing Kansas among the top 20 states in terms of dollars spent on education, but ranked only 37th in terms of achievement. I would greatly appreciate your input on this very important discussion.

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