In 1936, when America was plunged into the worst economic depression in its history, President Roosevelt told us that the school is the last expenditure upon which America should be willing to economize. He understood then that creating an outstanding public educational system was worth the cost, but is it worth the cost to Kansans today?
At this writing, the Legislature appears reluctant to respond to the Kansas Supreme Court directive to add approximately $100 million to the more than $500 million over five years the court ordered in 2018. Can the mid-April deadline set by the court be accomplished?
Despite the urgency for closure, school funding remains an ongoing point of contention. Moreover, allocating funds to meet the court order may not guarantee an ending to contention.
Already there are three propositions the Legislature may consider that would weaken and decrease recent court-ordered appropriations to public schools that currently serve 90 percent of Kansas students.
The first proposal would introduce Education Spending Accounts, which are a restructured form of vouchers allowing families to decide whether to use their student(s) per-pupil funding for public school or a private school of their choice. Thus, some of the recently allocated funds would be pulled away from public schools.
Increasing tax credits now going to private school scholarships, if passed into law, would reduce the number of tax dollars coming into the general fund because of the 70 percent, or perhaps more, tax write-off that would go to those who can afford to purchase the scholarship tax credits.
The third proposal would broaden charter school independence; thus, drawing per-pupil state dollars away from existing public schools while allowing charters to follow even fewer state policies.
Legislators should address the court mandate that is due in April, then take a comprehensive look at Kansas schools. Recommendations regarding school finance presented to the public by political parties and political action groups are numerous, confusing even contradictory.
The turmoil pushes the general public into political divides that stem more from ideologies than the educational problems facing our state. It is impossible to correlate the amount of money spent with student achievement or lack thereof.
The resolution of Kansas current education finance dilemma does not need to be an economic killer or require a flood of new money that guarantees acceptance of schools current status quo. Plus, neither of these alternatives will get us the educational system that President Roosevelt envisioned that envisioned continuous improvement in achievement for all students.
Education is a responsibility beyond the Legislature and shared by all of us even though individuals can only do what we can with the time that we have. Reaching out doesnt always mean organized, ambitious work of political parties or political action groups.
Heres some suggestions to help move schools forward: Text a friend or post a note about your ideas on education on your Facebook page, tutor or volunteer at a school or not-for-profit childrens center.
Simply do what you can to shift your and others thinking away from contentious games played out in the Legislature and toward collaboration and problem solving.
Realistically, this work may go no farther than just you. If it doesnt we shouldnt consider that a failure. None of us know how simply trying to help schools may shape the larger public sphere. Even though school choice disputes continue, mutuality, compromise and goodwill really can lead to more positive outcomes.
Sharon Iorio is a professor and Dean Emerita at Wichita State University College of Education
