Author: Dave Trabert
KSDE hides from TV cameras to avoid being confronted on reducing proficiency standards
It’s not uncommon for education administrators to make easily debunked claims about student achievement or school finance from the safety…
Kansas residents prefer Kansas City Chiefs and Royals to stay at Truman Sports Complex
Residents of Overland Park and Leawood, the Sunflower State epicenter of a possible taxpayer-funded Kansas City Royals stadium, prefer that…
Big pay hikes for school administrators in 2025, while outcomes remain low
The 2025 school year was déjà vu all over again – nice pay increases for many administrators and persistently low…
Lower proficiency standards lead to phony student achievement gains
In the fable of the Emperor’s New Clothes, two con men convinced the Emperor they had woven a magnificent set…
USD 229 Superintendent Dr. Gillian Chapman deceives parents on achievement and funding
Blue Valley Superintendent Dr. Gillian Chapman wrote to parents last week, stating that the community “deserves honest, informed conversations about…
Overland Park wants 6% property tax hike to fund lavish spending increase
Overland Park’s 2026 proposed budget says it contains a 6.6% spending increase, but the real change is much higher and…
Leavenworth County property tax discussion is a good reminder that elected officials must be leaders
Did you ever have to settle squabbles coming from the back seat of the car, with kids saying ‘she’s looking…
KSDE denies lowering standards despite implausible proficiency gains
Kansas Department of Education (KSDE) staff put on a master class of political spin and deception at yesterday’s meeting of…
KSDE ignores fundamental questions about the 2025 state assessment test
It’s a simple question: Will the new state assessment measure mastery of reading and math skills? Yet Kansas Education Commissioner…
Shawnee Mission shortchanges students on services in the name of equity
The Shawnee Mission East High School student newspaper, Harbinger, reports that the school board “has formed a fairness-fighting task force:…
Kansas (sort of) promises not to violate Title VI Civil Rights Act
At its April board meeting, the Kansas State Board of Education couldn’t decide how to react to the U.S. Department…
KSDE is strangely quiet on conflicting claims about students below grade level
State Commissioner of Education Randy Watson was quoted last week by the Kansas Reflector, saying, “A lot of research says…
Promise Scholarship veto shows Laura Kelly is the government governor, not the education governor
Last week, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly vetoed an expansion of the Kansas Promise Scholarship program, a long-established program enjoying bipartisan…
How politics derailed property tax relief in the 2025 Legislature
Republicans and Democrats began the 2025 legislative session with much swagger about passing meaningful property tax reform. However, they adjourned…
KSDE finance chief Harwood wrong on the constitutionality of school funding
Deputy Commissioner for Fiscal and Administrative Services Dr. Frank Harwood inaccurately told the Kansas State Board of Education that an…
Proposed performance level descriptors are designed to continue hiding bad student outcomes
Which of the following provides a clear understanding of student achievement in Kansas: 33% of Kansas students are below grade…
Vanity and desire to help local government stand in the way of property tax relief
Republicans and Democrats began the 2025 legislative session with much swagger about passing meaningful property tax reform. However, they adjourned…
County officials object to pro-taxpayer property tax reforms
The leaders of Johnson, Sedgwick, Wyandotte, Douglas, and Shawnee counties collectively came out in opposition to property tax reform yesterday…
(At least) a $61 million tax increase is coming if revenue-neutral is repealed
More than 2,300 local governments are not raising property taxes this year, and almost 500 more are raising taxes by…
Kansas House votes to increase property tax
Yes, the headline is correct. The Kansas House of Representatives today effectively voted to increase your property tax by again…
House tax committee hears proposal to repeal revenue-neutral; we have a better idea
The Truth in Taxation / Revenue-Neutral Act passed in 2021 is easily the most effective property tax protection that ever…
Cities, counties sitting on more than $5 billion in cash reserves
City and county lobbyists are flooding the state capitol, pressuring legislators not to grant Kansans property tax relief. They tell…
KSDE shows disregard for student achievement, claiming at-risk spending and BNA laws aren’t about improving outcomes
With only 18% of Kansas graduates college-ready (ACT) and about 150,000 students reading below grade level, one might think the…
KSDE halts state assessment waiver request pending State Board vote
At the February 11 State Board of Education meeting, Commissioner of Education Randy Watson told board members that he is…