Author: David Hicks
2026 Kansas assessment scores show minor improvement based on lowered standards; ACT scores lowest in decades
State assessment results jumped last year after the State Board of Education reduced proficiency standards, but Kansas is now back…
Wyandotte UG rejects report claiming state audit found $40 million unaccounted for in county books
The Unified Government of Wyandotte County is pushing back on a report by KMBC and repeated in a state legislative…
KSBRC Summit highlights “Innovation with Purpose” in Kansas school districts
Equipping school board members, district leaders and teachers with innovative but practical strategies to improve academic achievement was the focus…
PELA economic freedom seminar discusses Adam Smith, markets, tariffs, and high taxes in Kansas
“Little else is requisite to carry a state to the highest degree of opulence from the lowest barbarism, but peace,…
USD 231 Gardner-Edgerton School District passes budget without raising property taxes
USD 231 Gardner-Edgerton passed a revenue-neutral budget for this school year, but only after an effort to exceed revenue-neutral failed…
Concordia Student Conduct Policy ties academics, attendance, and behavior to extracurricular eligibility
Concordia USD 333 students risk participation in any extracurricular activity if they are failing a subject, have an unexcused absence,…
Olathe superintendent says, “I will go to sleep tonight and sleep well” after closing six schools
In the end, the decision to close six Olathe schools was unanimous. But opponents say it’s not over. The Olathe…
Their hours reduced, Blue Valley paraprofessionals now face elimination of benefits as school district seeks to close spending gap
Blue Valley paraprofessionals received bad news in a recent “Dear colleague” letter” I am writing to share an important change…
USD 500 silent on board member’s accusations that colleagues, staffers conspire against the district
The scandal-plagued USD 500 in Kansas City, Kansas remains mum on board member Pamela Penn-Hicks’ charges in a recent meeting…
Emotions run high in four-hour marathon public hearing on plan to close 6 schools in Olathe
Passionate defense of neighborhood schools, anger, confusion, tears, and intermittent bursts of applause rang out in the Olathe South High…
State school board candidate Jean Clifford admonished for election violation
Editor’s note: This story originally included a statement by Kelly Ancor about two warnings, but KPDC confirms it sent only…
Lansing USD 469 proposing restricting board members’ community outreach, media access
A proposal to be discussed at the October meeting of the USD 469 Lansing School District seeks to restrict board…
Lansing School District rejects donation of U.S. Constitutions, alleging political bias
The USD 469 School District in Lansing first accepted, then quickly rejected, a donation of pocket-sized U.S. Constitutions for 8th…
Kansas to receive $134 million from landmark Meta settlement
47 states and the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands recently settled their $17.1…
Spring Hill School District won’t comment on possible libel committed by high school yearbook staff
As a follow-up to our story from July on the daughter of Spring Hill High School Mom Christina Bilyeu, USD…
K-State Frontier Extension Service will impose property tax increase on three counties to fund positions eliminated by USDA
Kansas State University’s Frontier Extension Service #11 will impose a property tax increase of $192,000 on residents of Anderson, Franklin and…
Court rules City of Edgerton violated defendants’ constitutional rights in lawsuit over data center, allows petition calling for election to proceed
A Johnson County district judge sided with Edgerton resident Kimberly Twente and fellow defendant Carrie Schmidt, striking down an effort…
USD 233 Olathe targets six schools for closure next year
Citing enrollment declines and high maintenance costs, the Olathe USD 233 School Board accepted a task force recommendation to close…
West Virginia plan to gain support for data center development includes elimination of state income tax
Amid nationwide concern over land use, utility and water consumption, and noise, the State of West Virginia’s data center plan…
“Citizens deserve a vote”: City of Edgerton sues resident over petition asking for vote on data center
Edgerton resident Dr. Kimberly Twente and a handful of others presented a petition to the City of Edgerton in July…
Topeka USD 501 settles with U.S. Department of Education over transgender policies
USD 501 Topeka became the first of four Kansas school districts to settle a dispute with the federal government, which…
Hillsdale College offers teachers free lesson plans on American History and civics curriculum
Hillsdale College is unveiling a new website dedicated to improving history and civics education in the United States as we…
Red state ballot initiatives give voters a say on property taxes, while Kansans are still waiting
The Wall Street Journal reports several traditional “red” states, responding to constituents’ outcries over seemingly out-of-control property taxes, will offer…
PELA seminar focuses on U.S., Kansas rankings in providing economic freedom
Economic freedom and how to keep it, both in the U.S. and in Kansas, were the subjects of the latest…