Mark Tallman KASB Report on School District Spending Choices

Key Facts: How have Kansas school district spending choices changed?

School districts have directed more operating dollars to teaching and to programs helping students, and reduced the percentage of operating spending on almost everything else. The total dollars available for operating costs are limited by the state and federal government. Capital expenditures for buildings and payments for school construction bonds, which are approved by local voters, have been increases more than operating costs.

According to data from the Kansas State Department of Education, in 2015 school districts spent 61.4 percent of operating funds on direct instruction (teachers, special education paraprofessionals, classroom aides, coaches and classroom materials), up from 56.7 percent 15 years ago.

Districts spent 5.4 percent of operating funds on student support programs (such as counselors, nurses, attendance officers, social workers and school psychologists); up from 5.1 percent in 2000, and 4.0 percent on teacher support (libraries, media centers and professional development); the same percent as in 2000.

Spending on school administration (principals and school office personnel) dropped from 6.2 percent to 5.5 percent. Central administration costs are 5.1 percent of operating costs, down from 5.4 percent.

Operations and maintenance costs, which include utilities, insurance, custodial services and security, make up 9.6 percent of operating expenditures, down from 11.1 percent. Transportation costs for students to and from school and activities is 4.3 percent, down from 5.4 percent. Non-instructional spending, which is mostly food service programs (breakfast and lunch) is 4.7 percent, down from 6.1 percent.

Operating expenditures dropped from 91.7 percent of total expenditures to 88.0 percent. This is primarily because local voters have approved school construction bonds at a faster rate than the Legislature has approved increases in general operating aid and local option budgets (which are limited by the state). Local boards and voters cannot shift funding from building and equipment funds to operating funds.

Follow-up: Some say only about half of student spending actually “gets to the classroom.”

That’s only true if you accept the idea that “instruction” is the only thing that matters “in the classroom.” However, student learning in the classroom would not be possible without the other areas of the budget - including buildings and operating the classroom, supervising and supporting teachers, and transporting, feeding and providing support services for students.

Kansas State Dept. of Education News Release: Graduation Rate Reaches New High

Ann Marie Bush, Communications Specialist     (785) 296-7921

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Oct. 21, 2016

America’s graduation rate reaches new high; Kansas remains above average

Kansas’ goal is to have every student graduate

President Barack Obama on Monday announced that America’s high school graduation rate has reached a record high of 83.2 percent. The president made the announcement at Benjamin Banneker Academic High School in Washington, D.C.

The high school graduation rate has steadily risen during Obama’s time in office, growing by about four percentage points since the 2010-2011 school year, which is the first year all states used a consistent, four-year adjusted measure of high school completion.

In Kansas, the 2015 four-year public school graduation rate was 85.9 percent. While this is above the national average, it isn’t enough, said Kansas Commissioner of Education Randy Watson.

The vision for education in the state is Kansas leads the world in the success of each student. One of the five outcomes that will be used to measure the progress of the vision is graduation rates.

The goal is to have every high school student graduate and have a plan in place that will lead to success, Watson said.

The Kansas State Department of Education is focusing on several initiatives, such as kindergarten readiness, family engagement, civic engagement and social-emotional growth, to help improve graduation rates in the state.

Kansas uses the four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate, which is the number of students who graduate in four years with a regular high school diploma divided by the number of students who entered high school four years earlier (adjusting for transfers in and out).

During the past four years, Kansas’ graduation rates have increased in every subgroup. The highest percentage increases from 2011-2012 to 2014-2015 have been in the free/reduced lunch subgroup (1.6 percent increase); the Hispanic subgroup (1.9 percent increase; the Limited English Proficient (3 percent) subgroup; and the African-American subgroup (3.3 percent).

Obama said nearly every state across the country has seen progress since 2010-2011. The biggest increases across the nation have been in the English Learners, African-American and Hispanic groups.

While this is good news for Kansas, we still have more work to do. Kansas can’t lead the world in the success of each student without ensuring that all students graduate and have a plan in place for their future.

Mark Tallman Education Report on How School Funding is Determined

Key Facts: How is school district funding determined and spent?

School spending is divided into two areas. The first, general operating expenditures, go to salaries, utilities and materials. The total amount of these funds is mostly limited by the state and federal governments, however, local boards decide how to spend what they receive.

The second, capital expenditures and debt payments go to acquire, build and equip facilities and pay for constructional bonds. The amount of these funds are mostly controlled by local school boards and voters. However, these funds can only be used for building costs and limited use for building maintenance.

As noted in the chart, most operating funds are set by the state or are based on federal appropriations. Districts may adopt a local option budget for operations, but the amount is capped at 30 percent of the general fund, which is set by the state Legislature (or 33 percent if the district holds an election).

Follow-up: Why do school districts spend money on buildings and other facilities when they are concerned about operating costs?

The amount of funding for general operating costs is set by the state. Many districts have reached the state imposed limit on what they can raise for local option budgets. However, districts can raise up to eight mills in local property taxes for building construction, upkeep and maintenance; and there is no limit on what local voters can approve for construction bonds. The dollars raised for facilities cannot be used for most salaries and operations even if the board would prefer.

Current Education Achievement Levels in Kansas: A Blog by Mark Tallman

Key Facts: What are current Kansas education achievement levels?

Overall education levels in Kansas are at an all-time high. This includes the percent of population that has completed high school, any level of postsecondary education, or completed a four-year or advanced degree.

More young Kansans (18-24 years old) are completing high school, beginning college and completing degrees than ever before.

However, as has been true in the past, students from low-income families, students with disabilities and students learning English as a second language continue to lag behind other students.

Follow-up: Some say a majority of Kansas students are “failing” or “not proficient” or “not college ready.” Is that true?

When test results show a majority of Kansas students are below a benchmark, they are referring to a high performance level generally aimed at college level-preparation. In the past, most students did not need to reach these levels because students did not need or expect to complete a four-year degree or more. It’s not that more students are failing; it’s that standards have been raised.

Voter Registration Deadline Oct. 18th

Voter registration deadline Oct. 18

If you haven’t registered to vote, Tue. Oct. 18 is your last day to do so.

The general election is Tue. Nov. 8.

For more information on registration and the election, please go to KASB's Election Information webpage, which includes links to the Kansas Secretary of State’s office and the League of Women Voters website.

KS Center for Economic Growth: The Fiscal Year 2017 Budget Won't Work

October Update: The Fiscal Year 2017 Budget Won't Work

By Kansas Center for Economic Growth Senior Fellow Duane Goossen

It's even clearer now. The FY 2017 budget won't work, which means mid fiscal year budget cuts are ahead. And those budget cuts must be taken from a set of expenditures already squeezed down and chopped up.

 

New information allows an update of the official version of the FY 2017 budget. We now know the actual beginning balance - $37 million - that carried over from FY 2016. We also now know the amount of FY 2016 unpaid bills - $87 million - forwarded for payment in FY 2017. The carryover balance was above zero "on paper," but only because Kansas did not pay all its bills in FY 2016. Had the bills been paid on time, the carryover balance would have been $50 million below zero. (That does not count the $96 million KPERS payment due for payment in FY 2016, but deferred until FY 2018. Timely payment of the KPERS bill would have taken the carryover balance even further below zero.)

 

The updated general fund profile (shown below) starts with the beginning balance of $37 million. The unpaid FY 2016 bills add onto FY 2017 expenditures. After pushing FY 2016's unpaid bills forward, the gap between ongoing revenue and expenses grows to $430 million in FY 2017. This updated version of FY 2017 projects an ending balance of $5 million, but with two great big "IFs."

The ending balance will be barely positive "IF" the sale of the bioscience authority brings in $48 million. That's not likely.

 

And the ending balance will be barely positive "IF" revenue comes in as projected. However, three months into the fiscal year, general fund tax receipts are already $67 million below projections.

 

July tax revenue missed projections by $13 million, August missed by $10 million, and September missed by $44 million. The updated FY 2017 general fund profile shown above does not yet account for those misses. In early November, the FY 2017 revenue estimate will be revised - revised downward - and then the general fund will be "officially" underwater, triggering the necessity for more budget cuts. Given actual experience in the first 3 months of FY 2017, the revised revenue estimate could potentially be $200 million (or more) lower than the current one.

 

Kansas does not receive nearly enough revenue to pay its bills, but that's not a new phenomenon. The budget became structurally unbalanced four years ago, immediately after the implementation of unaffordable income tax cuts. Make no mistake - Kansas' current troubled finances originate right there.

 

Preparing for the General Elections

Voting allows each of us to voice our opinion and select who will lead our nation and state. Educators, parents and community members who care about the quality of education in Kansas recognize the importance of voting for candidates who support schools.

This year the decisions we make at the ballot box on November 8^th will determine who will write the new school finance formula. Our action to vote (or inaction by not voting) and to be an informed voter will determine who decides the funding available to educate our students. Will you take action by voting? It’s this easy…
1. Register to VOTE by October 18th.  First, check to make sure you are registered to vote here.  You can fill out a voter registration application electronically here, and must be delivered to your County Election Officer by October 18th.  While it is important to register if you have not already done so, it is equally important to re-register if you have moved or changed your name since the last election. 

2. Request a Mail Ballot.  Mail ballot allows you to vote from home at any time, day or night! Moreover, it allows time to research the candidates’ positions.  Once you are registered to vote, click here to electronically fill out, print, and sign an ‘Application for Advance Ballot By Mail’.  Complete the form and turn it into you County Election Officer anytime between now and November 4th.  Make sure to fill in “General,November 8, 2016” on Section 5 of the form, and you’ll be set to make your vote count in November.  You can begin to cast your mail in ballot up to 20 days in advance of the General Election.

3. Or Vote Early.    Early voting in person begins Nov 1^st or in larger counties Oct 19^th. Please visit the election office in Kingman County at 130 N Spruce Kingman, KS 67068 or Phone: (620) 532-2521 Fax: (620) 532-5082, which will provide you the times, dates, and locations to vote early in our county. Election offices in Sedgwick, Reno, Sumner and Harper counties can also be contacted for those USD 331 district residents living in those counties.

4. Become an Informed Voter!  While USD 331 Kingman-Norwich does not have the resources to vet individual candidates, other organizations supporting public education provide insight on voting history or candidate surveys: Kansas PTA, Game On for Kansas and KNEA.  This November the ballot will also include a retention election for theKansas Supreme Court Justices, a section which is often overlooked as it resides at the end of the ballot. Retaining Justices that are fair and impartial is critical to public education. Become informed on the Justices up for retention by visiting Kansans for Fair Courts or the USA-Kansas Election Resource Page.

Know where to vote if you choose to vote in person on November 8th! 

Voting Places

Murdock Methodist Church

• Dale, Vinita, Galesburg, and Evan Townships
• USD 268

Norwich City Hall

• Allen, Bennett, Canton, Eagle, and Liberty Townships
• Sedgwick, Sumner, and  Harper County USD 331

Kingman Activity Center North Room

• Hoosier, Ninnescah, White, Belmont and Richland Townships
• Reno County USD 331

Kingman Activity Center South Room

• Kingman City 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Wards

Zenda Community Center

• Kingman, Peters, Rochester, Chikaskia and Valley Townships
• Nashville City
• Spivey City
• Zenda City

Cunningham Community Center

• Cunningham City
• Eureka, Union, Dresden and Rural Townships

Other Areas

Persons living in Kingman County in the 311 school district will vote in Pretty Prairie and persons living in Kingman County in the 361 school district will vote in Harper County.

Whether by mail or in person, THANK YOU for voting in the November General Election. By casting a ballot, you will join the generations of great Kansans before us who helped build this state and help ensure a strong Kansas for the generations to come.