KNEA attorney David Schauner. (Photo by Stephen Koranda)The largest teachers union in Kansas says it will file a legal challenge to part of a controversial new law. The education funding bill passed earlier this year includes changes making it easier to fire teachers in Kansas. The legislation strips teachers of some due process protections before they can be removed. The KNEA says that provision was added to the bill and passed in an improper manner. Opponents of the bill, including KNEA attorney David Schauner, say it will allow teachers to be fired for unfair reasons.
Supporters of the legislation argue that the changes can help improve Kansas schools by making it easier to remove bad teachers.
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The largest teachers union in Kansas is promising a legal challenge to part of a controversial education funding law. The legislation includes additional school funding in response to a court ruling, but lawmakers also added policy changes that angered many teachers. KPR’s Stephen Koranda reports.
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The bill makes it easier to fire teachers in Kansas, by eliminating the guarantee of a due process hearing before a teacher is removed, if the teacher requests it. The KNEA says the provision was added to the bill in an improper manner. Opponents of the legislation, including KNEA attorney David Schauner, say it allows teachers to be fired for unfair reasons.
“Instead of money being spent in classrooms, money will now be spent in courtrooms by teachers and school districts challenging unfair dismissals,” says Schauner.
But supporters of the provision have argued that the changes make it easier to remove bad teachers. Senate President Susan Wagle says in a statement that effective teachers have a big impact on student outcomes, and lawmakers passed the bill with the welfare of students in mind. The KNEA could file the lawsuit later this month.