education

Critics Of Education Standards Voice Concern

Associated Press — Wed, 15 May 2013 11:58:02 +0000

Critics of the Kansas Board of Education's decision to adopt national standards for math and reading urged the board to reconsider its decision Tuesday.

Kansas is among 46 states that have adopted the national standards; they set academic expectations for students from kindergarten through high school.

The state adopted the standards in 2010, and school districts have begun implementing them in the classrooms and in teacher training.

Wichita Middle School Students Get Chance At Flight Over Wichita

Associated Press — Mon, 06 May 2013 11:43:09 +0000

A group of middle school students will get a chance to fly over Wichita this week to mark the end of their mentoring program.

The Flying Challenge program ends Thursday at the National Center for Aviation Training.

The program matches Airbus and Wichita State University engineering students with 80 students at Brooks Middle School in Wichita.

The students participate in a robotics lab, a paint lab, a radio-controlled airplane demonstration and this flight over Wichita,

Kansas House Considers Bill Limiting Teacher's Negotiation Rights

Kate Clause and Associated Press — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 20:31:52 +0000

Kansas legislators returned from a four-day break Wednesday to discuss a bill that would narrow contract negotiations between teachers and public school districts.

Substitute House Bill 2027 has been criticized by as an "attack on educators" by the Kansas National Education Association.

Gov. Brownback Outlines New Education Budget Proposals

Associated Press — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 18:36:29 +0000

Gov. Sam Brownback's new budget proposals would phase in a $76 million increase in aid to public schools over two years. He would would also use $77 million in revenue from state-owned casinos to help fund teacher pensions.

Butler Community College Considers Banning All Tobacco

Kate Clause and Associated Press — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 14:21:14 +0000

Butler Community College leaders are considering a proposal to ban smoking and tobacco on all of its campuses. A task force presented its findings last week to the college's Board of Trustees. The board could vote on the issue in March.

Butler currently bans smoking inside campus buildings, but smoking is allowed outside 25 feet from the buildings. Bill Rinkenbaugh, one of the school's vice presidents, estimates the college would spend between $25,000 - $30,000 on signs and educational materials to implement the ban.

About a dozen Kansas colleges have banned tobacco.

KS Public Schools Receive "C" Grade

Kate Clause and Associated Press — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 19:59:36 +0000

According to Education Week's annual rankings, Kansas' public schools are 37th in the country.

The publication released its 2013 "Quality Counts" rankings today, and Kansas' overall grade was a C. The state received a B minus for its standards, assessments and a category called "chance for success." Kansas earned an A for early childhood education, but an F for "college readiness." The rest of the categories were mixed, with Kansas getting a D+ for K-12 achievement, a B+ for workforce readiness, and an A minus for school accountability.

Education Official Testifies In School Funding Lawsuit

Frank Dudgeon and Associated Press — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 18:00:00 +0000

A Kansas official says school districts are concerned about more than just the resources needed to provide their students with a suitable education.