• School funding decision doesn’t end litigation

    School funding decision doesn’t end litigation0

    The Kansas Supreme Court’s June 14 ruling that school funding now meets the court’s definition of being constitutionally adequate is likely just a ‘time-out’ in school funding litigation.  The decision doesn’t preclude schools from taking further legal action, either within the current Gannon litigation or with another lawsuit.  And just like large funding increases in

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  • Claim that more Gannon money will be used to hire 5,400 teachers doesn’t stand up to scrutiny

    Claim that more Gannon money will be used to hire 5,400 teachers doesn’t stand up to scrutiny0

    If you were to believe Gannon plaintiff attorney Alan Rupe, schools across the state are poised to hire 5,400 new teachers. This additional cadre of educators would allow the education system in the state of Kansas to satisfy the Rose standards by providing what Rupe described as “the 25% deprived of a constitutionally equitable and

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  • Gannon VII oral arguments focus on inflation, constitutionality of Montoy

    Gannon VII oral arguments focus on inflation, constitutionality of Montoy0

    The Supreme Court held oral arguments on May 9 prior to their upcoming seventh Gannon opinion. As has been the case throughout the nearly decade-long Gannon saga, each oral argument phase brings at least one new variable that makes predicting what the Court might decide a fool’s errand. This go-around there were two such variables: 1.

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  • State school funding per-pupil ranked #16 in U.S.

    State school funding per-pupil ranked #16 in U.S.0

    U.S. Census data shows Kansas had the 16th highest state school funding per-pupil in 2016 at $7,970, based on headcount enrollment and total state aid of $3.9 billion.  Legislators therefore provided state aid that was 22 percent above the national average of $6,546 back in 2016 and KSDE estimates state aid will be $4.5 billion

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  • A $2 Billion Tax Increase Inbound: How Would It Impact You?

    A $2 Billion Tax Increase Inbound: How Would It Impact You?0

    Have you heard of the incoming tax increase? To maintain a statutorily required 7.5% ending balance, policymakers must find a way to close a $2 billion gap and slow the rate of state spending. The overspending includes an initial $1.3 billion shortfall , a $115 million KPERS payment, and the $270 million in new demands

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  • Solving the Kansas Budget Crisis

    Solving the Kansas Budget Crisis0

    Simply removing the Governor’s proposal won’t solve the state budget. Policymakers must find a way to reduce spending by roughly $518 million over four years. We’ve written previously on the Kansas budget debate with a clear-eyed look at the impact of different proposals. The key moving forward is to close the gap remaining in the

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