Kansas Democrats in the House said a hearing Monday, on an attempt to ban transgender athletes from participating in school sports, marked the start of “hate week,” a reference to planned discussions on multiple bills attacking the LGBTQ community.
Between voucher programs and new parental rights legislation, education officials say public schools are having a rough time.
Rep. Patrick Penn, R-Wichita, said the Kansas Legislature should put politics aside and pass a bill requiring the Kansas State Board of Education to approve curriculum on gun safety incorporating the National Rifle Association’s trademarked Eddie Eagle program to broaden gun safety efforts in K-12 public schools. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)
The K-12 Education Budget Committee passed a modified version of a bill creating a voucher program that allows parents to set aside a portion of public school funding to be used at unregulated private or home schools, which don’t have to be accredited.
A new education bill would funnel money into unregulated, unaccredited private schools, with lawmakers saying the legislation would protect parental authority.
When Buhler teacher Sam Neill gave lawmakers her opinion on educational issues in the state on Monday, she was told by a lawmaker that people like her were the reason no one wanted to become teachers.
The foundation of public education had been shaken by ideological attacks, complaints from legislators about the cost of state funding to K-12 education, demise of teacher tenure and concern about deficient salaries, a panelist said Monday.
The president of the Kansas Board of Regents believes greater investment of state tax dollars in need-based scholarships could play a key role in placing a university education within reach of more students.
After years of school districts shouldering the burden for special education costs, the governor announced a five-year plan to fully fund special education across the state.
A group of education deans from public universities in Kansas say the state needs to raise teacher pay, elevate the profession and offer student teachers a paycheck — rather than just another tuition bill — while they work in classrooms.
