education spending

What's ahead for Kansas school funding? The Kansas Supreme Court has threatened to shut down schools if lawmakers can't come up with a funding method that's constitutional. Many are now wondering how lawmakers will respond. One idea? Shifting money around, from wealthier districts to poorer districts.

Public school funding has generated some heated discussions at the Kansas Statehouse and at the state supreme court. But there was a time when education spending was a lot less controversial. Commentator William Jennings Bryan Oleander tells us more.

Kansas lawmakers have approved a budget for the new fiscal year that starts in July. But, they haven't included any additional money for public schools, despite a supreme court order saying the current funding method is unconstitutional and some schools are getting short-changed.

Governor Sam Brownback may order across-the-board budget cuts if state lawmakers can't agree on a tax plan to fund the budget. The governor's budget director says prison guards could be laid off and aid to public schools could be reduced.

In the wake of budget cuts, more than a half-dozen Kansas school districts will let out classes earlier than scheduled this year to save money.

Another Kansas school district has decided to end its academic year earlier than planned, as a way to save money.

Some public schools are worried that the new system for funding public education will lead to fewer teachers and larger class sizes.