Support for K-12 Education

Below is an article from the Topeka Capital Journal.  It reveals the results of a scientific survey that shows overwhelming support for Kansas public schools.  I wish the legislators would take this to heart as they contemplate deeper cuts to K-12 education.  To date the House and Senate have not passed a rescission bill for this fiscal year or a budget for next fiscal year.

Education advocates tout survey results

Posted: March 1, 2011 - 9:02pm

By Angela Deines

THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL

Education advocates held up results of a survey Tuesday that they say shows nine out of 10 Kansans "believe public education is worth the investment of tax dollars" and put a high priority on the value of education.

Representatives of several state-level education groups said during a news conference at Logan Elementary School that a "vast majority" of those polled recently by Patron Insight, Inc., of Stilwell, believe Kansas schoolchildren  have equal access to educational opportunities, regardless of where they live.

"We believe that data suggest quite strongly that patrons believe in an equal playing field across the state and that public education is very important and should be equally funded", said Ken DeSieghardt, CEO of Patron Insight. "From a data perspective, Kansans value their public schools, and they really believe they are a good investment of tax dollars and they want to protect the funding."

DeSieghardt said 500 registered voters were surveyed in 162 school districts, showing a "true cross section" of Kansans' sentiments regarding public education.

Mike Mathes, Seaman Unified School District 345 superintendent, said the Patron Insight survey shows 82 percent of  those surveyed give their local districts a grade of "A" or "B" for their performance. He said that shows Kansans have faith in the education students are receiving in public schools and that adequate funding should follow.

"It is a very vocal minority who is trying to show public schools are failing so we can lower taxes and not give that money to those failing public schools," he said. "I think this is a piece of data that is reliable and valid that shows our public schools aren't failing and it's a good investment to invest in our public schools."

The education representatives presented the findings of the survey prior to a Kansas House Education Committee hearing on Thursday.

Committee members are scheduled to discuss a resolution that would change language in the Kansas Constitution from "the Legislature shall make suitable provision finance of the educational interests of the state" to "the Legislature shall provide for the equitable distribution of public school funds in a manner and amount as may be determined by the Legislature."

Many state lawmakers remain irritated that they were ordered by the Kansas Supreme Court in Montoy v. state of Kansas to provide equitable education funding across the state, funneling millions of dollars into the base state aid per pupil funding. 

During the 2011 legislative session, lawmakers have been discussing  ways core functions of public education would be defined while also allowing school districts to levy more local tax dollars to fund education the way they see fit. However, education officials have pointed to vast differences in the amount of money that can be raised based on varying property values in the state's school districts.

"Generally Kansans feel decisions made at the local level are best," said John Heim, Kansas Association of School Boards executive director. "But then you have a fairness issue when it comes to funding."  

Fred Patton, KASB president and member of the Seaman school board, said a new statewide “Kansas Conversation” initiative will encourage school districts to have "local conversations" on what Kansans believe public schools should do in providing an education for their children. That information will then be given to Gov. Sam Brownback and state lawmakers to show them what Kansans think should be the function of the state's public education system.

"It shouldn't be just school leaders making all the decisions," Patton said.