Tag: student achievement
HB 2402 would make it easier for schools to be designated an ‘Innovative District’
In late March, the Kansas Legislature passed a bill that would shorten the time schools have to apply for waivers…
As student achievement declines, report shows NEA funnels millions to social justice causes, supports anti-ICE protest
An investigation by a nonpartisan watchdog group has uncovered millions of dollars in union funds spent by the National Education…
As 31 states (not Kansas) restrict cell phone use in schools, researchers study its effect on achievement, teacher satisfaction
A survey in Education Week lists the efforts in 31 states and the District of Columbia to either restrict or…
Kansas ACT scores, college-readiness hit new lows
ACT scores for 2025 were released this week, showing yet another decline and hitting a new all-time low. The composite…
KSDE, State Board of Education ignore state literacy law
You might think that the State Board of Education would be laser-focused on addressing the serious literacy problem in Kansas.…
Texas takeover of failing Houston school district results in student achievement gains after just two years
In 2023, the Houston Independent School District (HISD) saw over 40% of its districts receive a grade of “D” or…
Audit: faulty free lunch eligibility by school officials cost taxpayers at least $38 million
Kansas, like many states, uses the number of students receiving free lunches to determine at-risk state funding for each district,…
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…
Education lobby gearing up for funding fight, potential lawsuit, as formula review begins
The Kansas Education Funding Task Force has begun meeting to discuss potential changes to the school funding formula before it…
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…
Kansas #15 for per-student spending, #40 in NAEP outcomes
A new analysis by Kansas Policy Institute shows that the Sunflower State ranks #15 for cost-of-living-adjusted spending per student, but…
New study again confirms that school choice improves outcomes
A new study shows the Ohio school choice program is producing better outcomes for students, the Wall Street Journal reports.…
KSDE reverses course on performance level descriptors with another attempted coverup
After toying with the idea of changing performance level descriptors for the state assessment to be even more deceptive, the…
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…
Lansing school board member wins unanimous approval for monthly report on student achievement
Lansing USD 469 school board members and taxpayers will get a monthly update on the progress in student achievement thanks…
Wichita bond issue appears to have failed, one proponent made deceptive achievement claims
Wichita’s first school bond issue in 16 years appears to have failed by a narrow margin. The unofficial count of in-person…
Wichita voters to decide fate of $450 million bond issue
Barely three months after presidential and congressional elections transfixed the country, USD 259 patrons will head to the polls February…
NAEP 2024: Kansas again below the national average on Nation’s Report Card
The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), acknowledged as the “gold standard” of assessments by the Kansas Department of Education,…
Education tax credit legislation would give parents school choice
The Kansas Senate is taking up a bill that would provide an education tax credit for parents who choose to…
“Devastating” drops in American 4th grade, 8th grade math scores on TIMSS international test
An international study of 650,000 4th and 8th graders from 64 countries shows plummeting math scores at both grade levels…
KSDE and KASB promote DEI and Critical Race Theory principles
The Kansas State Board of Education told the Legislature that the principles of Critical Race Theory (CRT) are not used…
USD 453 Leavenworth administration misleads school board on state assessment results
The administration at USD 453 Leavenworth consciously gave school board members and parents a false impression of high school state…
Lansing resident won’t substantiate criticism of school board member Amy Cawvey
Jackie Kennedy of Lansing used part of her allotted time at a recent USD 469 school board meeting’s Public Comment…
Kansas ACT scores and college readiness fall again, hitting new lows
The ACT results just released for the 2024 school year show further declines in both raw scores and college readiness.…