Tagged: school funding

Monday marks the start of the 2013 legislative session. This could be one of the most significant sessions in years.

Conservative Republicans control the House, Senate, and Governor's office. In recent years. moderate Republicans and Democrats have been able to block some legislation pushed by conservatives. But that is unlikely to happen in this session.

A task force created by Gov. Sam Brownback to review the Kansas system for funding public schools held its final meeting Monday in Topeka.

The group was formed by Brownback to look at how funds are spent by school districts and identify areas for improving fiscal efficiency.

Brownback has said school districts should focus more of their resources on classroom instruction and find ways to reduce spending on functions that don't affect teaching. Some ideas that have been discussed are sharing administrative resources and purchasing power.

State drops projected budget shortfall; Brownback will try and merge JJA with corrections in next legislative session; KS BOE to consider allowing PE credit for JROTC.

State's Projected Budget Shortfall Drops To $295M

The Kansas Legislature's research staff has revised its projections for the budget shortfall facing the state next year, dropping it to $295 million.

Education funding is a leading issue for many Kansans this election year and when voters go to the polls Nov. 6 they will be choosing between vastly different philosophies on how to create and maintain effective, efficient K-12 public schools.

Funding for public schools in Kansas has been a hot topic in the state legislative races this year, and for good reason.

Despite major cuts, more than half of the state’s budget is still spent on public schools.

Yet performance has been lackluster in many districts and among the state’s minorities.