Payroll jumps in Shawnee Mission but not for teachers
- Education
- August 22, 2018
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
READ MOREIf 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
READ MOREThe 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.
READ MOREU.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
READ MOREHave 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
READ MORESimply 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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