KPI On Finance Plan, "Incomplete"
Discussion Should Focus On Student Outcomes More Than Dollar Inputs |
December 14 - Wichita - Today, Dave Trabert, the president of Kansas Policy Institute offered the following statement in response to Gov. Sam Brownback's K-12 finance plan.
"All things considered, we have to give Governor Brownback's proposed School Finance Reform Plan an 'Incomplete'. It's good to give districts more flexibility in deciding how to spend aid dollars and the formula may be easier to understand, but there is nothing in this plan to substantively address his laudable goals of raising student achievement. Excellence in Education requires laser-like focus on outcomes and those elements are missing from this plan. Hopefully, there is still a lot more to come."
"According to the Kansas Department of Education, only 54% of Kansas juniors read grade-appropriate material with full comprehension; only 45% of Kansas juniors perform Math accurately most of the time and have effective content knowledge. It's no wonder universities spend millions on remedial training or that so many students drop out of college for academic reasons. It also helps explains why so many young adults have a hard time holding steady employment. They can't read and fully understand high school-level material."
"Funding is important but that's not what drives achievement. Total aid to Kansas schools increased from $3.1 billion in 1998 to $5.6 billion in 2011. Yet Reading proficiency levels according to the U.S. Department of Education remain relatively unchanged at about 35%."
"There is no question that the current funding formula is broken and needs a complete overhaul but that won't do anything to change outcomes. There's a lot more that needs to be done to raise achievement and ensure that every Kansas kid has access to an effective education."
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Kansas Policy Institute is an independent think-tank that advocates for free market solutions and the protection of personal freedom for all Kansans. Our work centers on state and local economic policy with primary emphasis on education, fiscal policy and health care. We empower citizens, legislators and other government officials with objective research and creative ideas to promote a low-tax, pro-growth environment that preserves the ability of governments to provide high quality services. To speak with Kansas Policy Institute, please contact James Franko at (316) 634-0218.
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