Kansas Supreme Court Education Fiasco

A few things you should know about the recent Kansas Supreme Court ruling on Education Funding:

First, there is little in government more important than education. I think we should provide our children with an excellent education, not merely a suitable education. We should provided an education that prepares our children for the world they will face when they graduate, and we should be willing to pay for that. The recent decision by the Kansas Supreme Court to legislate an additional $142 million in selected funding does not further the goal of providing an excellent education.

Second, this court decision has nothing to do with grades, test scores, educational outcomes, or learning. If you don't believe me, read the decision. The court assails the Legislature for failing to provide a "suitable" education for Kansas students, but the only way "suitable" is measured is money. I think the performance of Kansas students, which is actually much better than average, indicates that a suitable education is being provided. The education may not be as expensive as you would like, and you could debate if it is an "excellent" education, but the constitution says suitable and it looks suitable to me.

If funding is item number one on the court's education plan, and learning falls somewhere lower on the list I think the court has its priorities out of order and I think it is creating a plan to fail, just look at the disaster that happened in Kansas City, MO when a judge did the same thing 15 years ago.

Third, Kansas spends a comparable amount per pupil, but less of that money reaches the class room in Kansas. Approximately 57% of education funding reaches Kansas class rooms vs. 61% on average. Reducing non-class room spending, or consolidating some of the hundreds of school districts in Kansas would bring more funds to bear where they make a difference without increasing taxes. Too bad legislators don't have the guts to do this.

Fourth, This ruling will actually reduce the amount of money spent on the best schools in Kansas. Many of the best districts use their local option budgets to raise extra money to make their schools places of excellence. The Kansas Supreme Court will substantially cut funding for Shawnee Mission, Olathe, and Blue Valley, hurting the education of those children and throwing their budgeting process into chaos, all in the name of fairness.

Fifth, the ruling has major internal logical flaws. The biggest is the repeated criticism of the legislative process and the political compromises that come from that process. However in their remedy for the case the court simply doubles the Legislature's political compromise rather than impose the full funding amount.

Sixth, The court relies on this one study done by some no name consultants over the decision of the legislature because it disregards historical costs and determines the "real" cost of education? Ridiculous, and couldn't the legislature just commission a new report and make up another number?

Seventh, don't worry despite years of trouble funding education, the $135 million renovation of the Capital will proceed on schedule, the Senate will have a newly refurbished chamber next year, it will be beautiful, ornate and new, I just wish our children could say the same thing about their schools.



Timothy Burger