Author: David Hicks
New Hampshire expands school choice, removes income limits giving opportunities to all students
New Hampshire this year became the fifth state to expand its school choice options by removing income limits, allowing all…
Johnson County school districts react to hold on federal education grants while ignoring $237 million cash reserves
The U.S. Education Department has announced it has put $6.2 billion in federal grants to state education agencies on hold…
KSDE passes the buck to Gov. Kelly on Kobach guidance to remove gender identity references from state school lunch contracts
The ongoing disagreement between Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach, the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) and the Kansas State…
Kansas among 22 states allowing in-state tuition for undocumented students
For more than 20 years, the State of Kansas has offered in-state tuition to undocumented students since then-Governor Kathleen Sebelius…
Education officials top annual KPERS ‘millionaires’ list
Data provided by the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System shows that Kansas has 4,758 KPERS ‘millionaires’—state and local government retirees…
Alabama caps increases on taxable assessed property values; Kansas legislators couldn’t agree on methodology
The State of Alabama will apply a 7% annual cap on increases in taxable assessed property value this year, the…
USDA demands Kansas improve SNAP food assistance program efficiency
Kansas Governor Laura Kelly says the state can’t afford higher SNAP costs proposed in the so-called ‘big beautiful bill’ moving…
Kansas to call timeout with clock ticking on STAR Bond deadline as Chiefs request extension to continue negotiation
Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson has called a meeting of the state’s Legislative Coordinating Council (LCC) for July 7th to…
Mahmoud decision says Maryland parents can opt children out of curriculum that violates their religious beliefs
In a much-anticipated case centered on religious freedom, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Mahmoud v. Taylor that a group…
Abuse case against former Leavenworth Elementary teacher ensnares three school district employees
Allegations of seven counts of child abuse involving six students by former Leavenworth Elementary School teacher Jerome Riscovallez have resulted…
Kansas allows three years of unlawful behavior before labeling schools “persistently dangerous”
A May 7th letter from the U. S. Department of Education to state school officials has dusted off a decades-long,…
Education Funding Task Force debates validity of graduation rate against plummeting college readiness
Celebration of a stunning increase in a one-year graduation rate at Wichita Southeast High School came crashing down as reports…
Wichita has higher property tax, leadership pay than Sedgwick County government
Data obtained in Open Records requests show much higher pay levels for top officials in the City of Wichita than…
The “Supply Side” of School Choice: private options increase in states with universal choice
A lack of private options is a common concern among rural Kansas legislators, but a new study suggests school choice…
Louisburg school board caught trying to circumvent state law and prevent public input on property acquisition plan
At the urging of Miami County Attorney Kenton Harding, the Louisburg USD 416 School Board tabled its approval a week…
Overland Park leaders eager to approve $250 million subsidy for Black & Veatch
Overland Park-based Black & Veatch is asking the City of Overland Park for about $250 million in subsidies to help…
Wyandotte Co. property owners providing hefty salaries for government employees
The fallout continues across Kansas after state lawmakers failed to pass legislation limiting property tax increases. Wyandotte County and Kansas…
Again choosing systems over students, JOCO superintendents pen joint letter opposing federal School Choice legislation
Superintendents Dr. Tonya Merrigan of Blue Valley, Dr. Brent Yeager of Olathe, and Dr. Michael Schumacher of Shawnee Mission have…
Johnson County property tax hikes provided some hefty employee pay increases
The failure of the Kansas Legislature to deliver property tax relief this year after promising voters it was its “#1 priority”…
The majority of parents and teachers favor ESAs, but Kansas legislators prioritize administrators over students
Nearly three out of four teachers support Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) in America, and optimism among educators about their profession…
Kansas Office of Early Childhood promises streamlined programs, expanded access to childcare services
Kansas’ new Office of Early Childhood (OEC) will merge three departments and consolidate nearly 20 existing state programs serving children…
Prairie Village City Council spends $23,000 on drones for Ukraine
The Prairie Village City Council voted 8-4 to send a $22,900 donation to its Sister City in Dolyna, Ukraine for…
Parents’ right to opt out of school curriculum debated before SCOTUS in Maryland case
The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) heard arguments this week on whether parents can opt out of a…
Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s leadership drives his state toward school choice
The Texas House and Senate have approved versions of Senate Bill 2, which provides $1 billion to fund Education Savings Accounts (ESAs). This…