Kansas students and Kansas schools received high marks from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce last week, but that really comes as no surprise. Kansas has ranked in the top 10 states on academic achievement in several reports. The Kansas state assessments show that 87.6% of our schools met adequate yearly progress goals for the 2008-2009 school year and reflect that the achievement gap is slowly closing.
Kansas received an “A” in three categories; academic achievement; academic achievement of low-income and minority students; and RETURN ON INVESTMENT! Yes, I added a little emphasis on the ROI because many individual investors wish their stock portfolio had received such high marks, especially this year! The fact is – Kansans are getting a bang for their buck!
I want to be balanced, so it is important to report that Kansas did receive a couple of below average marks as well. We scored a “D” on rigor of standards for math and science. This life-long Kansan, who has watched the ridiculous battles over our science curriculum at the State Board of Education, election cycle after election cycle, can’t help but wonder if the battles over evolution have influenced that grade. I shudder to think of the potential impact of a Governor Sam Brownback, who raised his hand at a presidential debate when asked who doesn’t believe in evolution! As we try to overcome this deficit the state board of education races will be critical in 2010.
Finally, the last low grade received was for flexibility and management policy. I agree that school building administrators need more flexibility; schools have been advocating that for years. All the flexibility in the world, though, can’t wring water from a stone, and that’s what school administrators are forced to attempt in this current environment of piling cuts upon cuts.
Will this report, as so many others have, fall upon deaf ears in the legislature? Or will they listen to their friends in the business community and build upon the successes that they have identified?
I’m left wondering what board of directors would say, “Look, we have an excellent return on our investment – so let’s cut that investment by 10 percent”? As a former business owner, I can assure you that board of directors would be turned out on their ears!
Kansas elected officials should be proud that the investments they made in our schools has worked so well, and they should be seeking every measure possible to protect them. When something is working, you stick with it; you don’t seek to destroy it.
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