May 2011 Summary

The billion dollar increase in funding to K-12 schools after the Montoy decision (the 2005 court ruling which mandated a certain level of spending by the legislature without consideration of meeting achievement standards) did NOT increase student achievement. This was verified by the U.S. Dept. of Education.

In addition, the recent proposals for education spending in the FY2011 and FY2012 state budgets will not lower student achievement.

Kansas school districts have spent $2.6 billion dollars MORE per year than 10 years ago to teach the same number of students. Yet, scores on national tests such as NAEP, ACT, and SAT have remained flat. Kansas was one of four states which declined in NAEP 8th grade math scores between 2007 and 2009.

Of Kansas high school graduates enrolling in college, 65% need remediation in math, English or reading. More than 50% drop-out of college without a degree.

Kansas state assessments have changed three times in 10 years. By lowering the cut scores in 2005 and claiming that all students who get over the lowered bar are “proficient”, we are led to believe that more spending equals higher achievement. However, the facts support that only one in three Kansas students is actually “proficient” in reading and math.

The myth about teacher layoffs
Teachers, parents and students have been bombarded with misinformation by school districts and the KNEA teachers union. Frequently, these lobbyists (the most powerful and well-funded in the state) use fear tactics to publicize that responsible budgeting by the legislature will result in "teacher layoffs" and will be "disastrous" for students. We appeal to them to consider these facts and stop misinforming the public. Parents and teachers deserve to know the truth.

1. The inflated claims in 2009 that 3,000 teachers would be laid off if the Legislature made
any reduction in K-12 funding were grossly exaggerated. Only 260 teachers— statewide—were cut due to “reduction in force”. Normally, 4,000 teachers each year stop teaching, retire or move out of state—so 260 was just a “blip on the radar.”.

2. During the 2010 legislative session, legislators were told that 5,000 teachers would be laid off if proposed cuts were made to the BSAPP. The facts just documented this April show that budget reductions last year accounted for only 435 teachers not having their contracts renewed.

3. By contrast, between 2005 and 2009, school districts hired 6,402 new employees with the increased tax dollars appropriated by the Legislature. Only 2,613 or 41% of these new hires were teachers. The rest were non-instructional administrators and staff.

4. Kansas now has one of the lowest student/teacher ratios in America. Research has shown for years that small class size after 4th grade has little to do with increased student achievement. As the January 19th, 2011 report from the Center for American Progress just concluded: “Low productivity is costing the nation’s school system as much as $175 billion a year. Without clear controls on how additional school dollars are spent, more education spending will not automatically improve student outcomes.”

School districts have $776 million in unused funds they haven’t tapped
Kansas school districts carried forward $776 million in 27 unencumbered fund accounts at the start of this fiscal year. That is up $75 million from the previous year. Special education unspent balances were $216 million. There is no way for an additional $21 million to be spent in the final weeks of this school year.

These tax dollars need to be appropriated for In-home health care, Meals-on-Wheels, the mentally ill, physically disabled and our judicial system. Proposed cuts to these programs will have life-and-death consequences. Schools can and will “Do More With Less”. But these most vulnerable Kansans do not have millions in unencumbered funds to get them through a week—let alone a whole year.