Governor Brownback’s Excellence in Education Act
Feb. 18, 2012
Education is a huge issue, to say the least. But before going to the governor’s proposal, I want to show you statistics available on public school students’ performance on Kansas assessment tests, graduation rates etc. Here is the link:
http://charlotteohara.com/ksschool_stats.pdf
We hear a great deal about the level of proficiency of our children attending public schools. However, one of the most glaring statistic is that the Kansas 5-year adjusted graduation rate is 75.2% overall; Hispanic 62% and African American 60%. This is absolutely dismal and unacceptable to say the least. These results occur despite the average expenditure per student of nearly $12,000.00 per year.
In response to these statistics, I have introduced a bill in Tax Committee, which would create tax credits available to parents for private school tuition up to $3,500.00 per year, per child. The trigger for this program: A child scores less than 75% on the state’s third grade reading assessment test. Currently, 10,325 students or 28% of those tested scored less than 75%, according to the latest statistics. The bill number is HB 2753.
The other 800-pound gorilla in the living room: Current K-12 education funding consumes over 50% ($3 plus billion) of our State General Fund. In addition $600 million in federal funds and $1.567 billion of local funds for a grand total of $5.2 billion spent for public education, K-12, in Kansas. When adding in post-secondary, an eye popping 65% of our State General Fund goes to education. And remember, despite this enormous sum of public tax dollars spent, the Kansas 5-year adjusted graduation rate is only 75.2% overall with Hispanic and African American students graduation rate, 62% and 60% respectively.
Now on to the governor’s education plan. The high points are as follows:
1. Block grants to replace the current weighting system in which local districts receive extra revenue for: transportation weighting, low enrollment for new facilities weighting, high at risk based on free lunch qualification weighting, virtual enrollment weighting, vocational/technical education weighting, bi-lingual education weighting, 4 year old FTE weighting, Military Provision weighting, low and high enrollment weighting, declining enrollment weighting, Non-Proficient Student weighting, ancillary facility weighting, etc. etc. etc.
2. Focuses more on vocation/technical education with cooperation between secondary and post secondary facilities. According to the Kansas Department of Education, “The Governor’s plan on career technical education (CTE) provides that students within 30 miles of a community college or technical college to be able to attend such postsecondary institution at no cost to the district. If the program is duplicative and within 30 miles, the school district would not receive vocational funding for such students.”
3. Removes all caps from local option budget taxing authority for local districts with protest petition provision. Seems to me, this should REQUIRE a public vote. In this massive shift of funding from the state to local level, perhaps a corresponding cut in the 20 mill state property assessment should be considered.
4. A Property Tax Equalization formula, which currently is extremely complicated and cumbersome appears to continue to be extremely complicated and cumbersome.
What are the governor’s goals in submitting this 136 page Excellence in Education Act? Here’s my opinion:
- To short-circuit the lawsuit filed against the State of Kansas by a number of school districts currently making its way through Kansas Courts.
- Block grants would provide the public more clarity as to the level of per-student state expenditures (this portion is an excellent goal).
- Shift burden of funding public education from the state level to the local level.
- Promote and increase the availability of vocational/technical education classes, also an excellent goal.
That’s the run down of the governor’s proposal. Is this the best strategy to deal with the current lawsuit brought against the State of Kansas by a number of school districts? I believe the fundamental issues of quality education are not being addressed, although clarity of actual state level education expenditures is an excellent proposal. So, my review is mixed, which is reflected in the opinions of many of my colleagues.
Have a student in a state accredited school? Here’s a link to the Department of Education’s Report Cards on each state accredited school in Kansas:
http://online.ksde.org/rcard/searchpage.aspx
Just fill out the search label at the top of the page to find the school you want.
As always, hold me in your prayers.
Respectfully yours,
Charlotte O’Hara
Rep. 27th Dist.