In The News
‘Never seen it this bad’: America faces catastrophic teacher shortage
Why are America’s schools so short-staffed? Experts point to a confluence of factors including pandemic-induced teacher exhaustion, low pay and some educators’ sense that politicians and parents — and sometimes their own school board members — have little respect for their profession amid an escalating educational culture war that has seen many districts and states pass policies and laws restricting what teachers can say about U.S. history, race, racism, gender and sexual orientation, as well as LGBTQ issues.
Caught in the culture wars, teachers are being forced from their jobs
A Florida teacher lost her job for hanging a Black Lives Matter flag over her classroom door and rewarding student activism. A Massachusetts teacher was fired for posting a video denouncing critical race theory. A teacher in Missouri got the ax for assigning a worksheet about privilege — and still another, in California, was fired for criticizing mask mandates on her Facebook page.
Analysis: How the Kansas Legislature avoids public scrutiny by hiding in darkness
The Kansas Legislature shields itself from public scrutiny through secrecy, confusing shell games and silenced opposition.
“The Legislature’s annual rites of secrecy serve special interests, not ordinary Kansans, and make it harder for voters to learn who is responsible for passing legislation adverse to the public interest,” said Max Kautsch, a 1st Amendment attorney, speaking on behalf of the Kansas Coalition for Open Government.
Johnson County school districts have all spoken out against open enrollment
"Schools are such a draw to the community in general,” said Jennifer Robinson, an Olathe mother.
All three of her children – and a lot of her tax dollars – have gone to Olathe schools. Now, with the passage of the open enrollment provision, more kids can go to Olathe schools but their parents tax dollars won't.
Suburban school officials predict ‘chaos’ if Kansas lets out-of-district students transfer freely
Conservatives say the plan would give families stuck in failing school districts a chance at a life-changing escape. But school administrators fear a flood of students they’re not prepared for and who come with needs they can’t afford to accommodate.
'Educators are afraid,’ says teacher attacked for ‘Romeo and Juliet’ unit
Book banning in public schools is, according to new reports, at an all-time high as right-wing groups and Republican-led legislatures target works that address race, racism, gender, sexuality and other issues they don’t want students to discuss in classrooms.
As Kansas Legislature meddles in public education, words from great uncle George resonate today
The Republican advance guard calls 2662 a “parents’ bill of rights and academic transparency act.” Who can argue with that, right? But wake up! Smoke’s being blown, and only winds of reason can sweep it clear.
Parents already have rights, and academic content is already transparent. The bill, however, would require an entire year’s lessons and materials be posted at a “portal,” a website accessible not just to parents but to the general public. Paranoid parents — or anyone at all — could flood it with complaints, making teachers’ lives even more miserable than they were during the pandemic.
The Dark Money Push for Vouchers
Dark money is limitless millions used by the wealthy to set the policy agenda and pass their preferences – which involves lowering their own taxes, destroying unions, and providing profit opportunities. Where do they put their dollars?
Teachers ask parents to trust them as Kansas lawmakers pursue 'micromanaging legislation'
More than twenty students and teachers from Kansas City-area schools gathered to support public educators against bills in the Kansas legislature that they say undermines their profession.
Florida House passes race-related education bill.
Overriding objections from Democrats who called the measure “wrong on all levels,” the Republican-controlled Florida House on Thursday passed a bill that would limit how race-related concepts are taught in schools and in workplace training sessions.
Florida House of Representatives passes ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill.
The ban on discussing LGBT topics will apply largely to sex education at the primary grade levels, but also when "not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students". It passed on Thursday in the state House of Representatives in a 69-47 vote.