Failure to pass HB 2767 Leaves Low Income Students Behind

PRESS RELEASE
March 27, 2012

For Immediate Release
Contact: James Franko
316.634.0218

Legislators Deny Low Income Students Freedom
Available To Wealthier Peers
Tax-credit Scholarship Bill's Failure Shows Unwillingness To Help Those In Need

March 27, 2012 - Wichita - Yesterday, the Kansas House of Representatives failed to pass HB 2767 and in so doing prevented low-income students from potentially receiving a scholarship to attend a different school. This bill, introduced by Rep. Clay Aurand would have allowed taxpayers to receive a 90% tax credit when they donated to non-profit organizations that give out scholarships to students in schools with at least 50% of their students qualifying for free meals under the federal school lunch program.

"Wealthier parents effectively have complete choice in selecting where to send their children to school because they can move to a higher performing public school district or send their kids to a private school," said KPI president Dave Trabert. "Unfortunately, some Kansas parents cannot afford to move to a better public school district or find a better fit at a private school. Instead, they are locked into a system with no flexibility. It hardly seems fair that some students have more freedom than others based on their parents income."

Since 1998, Florida has implemented a variety of student-centric reforms including tax-credit scholarships similar to those contained in HB 2767. Florida officials are the first to point out that no single reform led to their dramatic increases in student achievement, but the numbers speak for themselves. On the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) exam administered by the U.S. Department of Education, Kansas scores on 4th and 8th grade reading have been flat while Florida's scores have skyrocketed, see adjacent charts.

Trabert continued, "The status quo isn't good enough and too many kids are being left behind. Of course, some students receive a fine public education but many simply do not. By rejecting this bill, the Kansas House sent a clear message to underprivileged kids - we'll continue more of the same that has resulted in only about a third of 4th grade and 8th grade students being Proficient in Reading and less than half Proficient in Math on independent national assessments."

State-designed-and-managed assessment tests show slightly better performance but are still unacceptably low. Just a year away from entering the workforce or going on to further education, only 39% of low income 11th grade students read grade-appropriate material with full comprehension according to KSDE.

The final vote failed 55 to 66; according to House records Reps. Calloway, Hayzlett, LeDoux, Peterson were absent or decided not to vote. The following representatives voted no; Ballard, Bethell, Billinger, Bollier, Brookens, Bruchman, Burgess, Burroughs, Carlin, Cassidy, Colloton, Davis, Denning, Dillmore, Fawcett, Feuerborn, Finney, Flaharty, Frownfelter, D. Gatewood, S. Gatewood, Gonzalez, Grange, Grant, Henderson, Henry, Hermanson, Hill, Hineman, Johnson, Kelly, Kerschen, Kuether, Lane, Loganbill, Mah, McCray-Miller, Meier, Meigs, Moxley, Osterman, Otto, Pauls, Phelps, Phillips, Pottorff, Proehl, Roth, Ruiz, Schroeder, Schwab, Seiwert, Slattery, Sloan, Spalding, Swanson, Tietze, Trimmer, Victors, Ward, Wetta, Williams, Winn, K. Wolf, Wolfe Moore, Worley.

"I guess we'll cross our fingers that Kansas can somehow disprove Einstein's definition of insanity. In the meantime, I hope more people in Topeka will start to understand that we can't address the challenges our state faces with the same level of thinking that got us here," concluded Trabert.

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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.