As Gov. Sam Brownback’s task force prepares to study how much K-12 funding reaches classrooms, state Rep. Steve Huebert, R-Valley Center, is looking at legislation that would keep academically lagging third-graders from moving to fourth-grade classrooms unless their parents sign an opt-out form. Huebert also told Associated Press that he wants the state to commit some of its education money to reading interventions. Fourteen states and the District of Columbia reportedly require third-graders to read at a certain level before they can go on to fourth grade. Brownback, who has set a goal of increasing the percentage of fourth-graders reading at grade level, has expressed an interest in such a retention policy, according to Education Commissioner Diane DeBacker. Kansas State Board of Education chairman David Dennis of Wichita suggested such intervention should target younger students. By retaining third-graders, “You’ve almost closed the door after the horse has already left,” Dennis told AP.
“Poverty among children ages 4 and younger was higher than among other age groups,” according to the 2012 Kansas Economic Report by the Kansas Department of Labor. Kansans in the youngest age group had a poverty rate of 22.1 percent, while the poverty rate for Kansans of all ages is 13.5 percent. Shannon Cotsoradis, president of Kansas Action for Children, told the Topeka Capital-Journal that higher poverty among very young children is especially troubling because “we know that’s the most critical period for child brain development.”
Mitt Romney put a target on the back of federal funding for public broadcasting and radio in Wednesday’s debate, saying he likes debate moderator Jim Lehrer of PBS and Big Bird but he’s “gonna stop the subsidy to PBS.” That prompted official and unofficial responses Thursday on Twitter. Big Bird tweeted via @SesameStreet: “My bed time is usually 7:45, but I was really tired yesterday and fell asleep at 7! Did I miss anything last night?” A parody account, @FireMeElmo, tweeted, “Elmo need help filing unemployment form – no thumbs” and “Exit interview confuse Elmo. Why name continuing health care after scary Cobra.” Actor Zach Braff tweeted: “Just saw Big Bird turning tricks by the Lincoln Tunnel.” In response to the response, David Burge (aka @iowahawkblog) tweeted: “No wonder lefties identify with Big Bird. A 43-year-old welfare layabout with imaginary friends.”
“Has-beens coming off the bone pile – that’s your headline.” – Dennis McKinney (in photo), a former House minority leader and state treasurer, to an Associated Press reporter writing about McKinney and the 11 other former lawmakers running to return to Legislature
“If you’re mainstream, you’re going to hell.” – Jack Wu, Republican candidate for Kansas State Board of Education for the district that includes Topeka, where he attends Westboro Baptist Church
“It’s called arithmetic.” – Rep. Nile Dillmore, D-Wichita, on the claim by Gov. Sam Brownback’s spokeswoman that concerns about potential state budget cuts are “inaccurate scare tactics”
“This is outrageous. Throw the whole thing out. Fire who’s doing it and start over. Maybe that’d be faster.” – Sedgwick County Commissioner Jim Skelton, on the months of long lines at the tag offices because of a new data system
As Gov. Sam Brownback’s task force prepares to study how much K-12 funding reaches classrooms, state Rep. Steve Huebert, R-Valley Center, is looking at legislation that would keep academically lagging third-graders from moving to fourth-grade classrooms unless their parents sign an opt-out form. Huebert also told Associated Press that he wants the state to commit some of its education money to reading interventions. Fourteen states and the District of Columbia reportedly require third-graders to read at a certain level before they can go on to fourth grade. Brownback, who has set a goal of increasing the percentage of fourth-graders reading at grade level, has expressed an interest in such a retention policy, according to Education Commissioner Diane DeBacker. Kansas State Board of Education chairman David Dennis of Wichita suggested such intervention should target younger students. By retaining third-graders, “You’ve almost closed the door after the horse has already left,” Dennis told AP.
