EXCELLENT STANDARDS!

We receive a copy of newsletters from neighboring districts and everyone is talking about assessment results. We didn’t want to be left out, so we thought we should brag a little bit too! For assessment purposes, JCN is a school district with two buildings; the elementary/middle school, and the high school. Both buildings met the state’s standard of excellence in reading and mathematics. These are impressive accomplishments. Many grade schools and middle schools across the state made the standard of excellence. Not many high schools achieved that distinction. For Jeff North, this is the third year in a row.

Overall, our scores are doing just what they are supposed to. They are gradually improving each year. Individually, we are having success with some students that we are very proud of. With others, we continue to search for ways to help students succeed. In the meantime, the state’s timeline marches on. Each year, we are required to demonstrate that more and more of students are at or above the “meets standards” level on state assessments. By 2013, ALL students in each subject area will be required to meet or exceed standards. Even with continuously improving test scores, that’s a lofty goal!

The state of Kansas had, for a period of 3 years, increased funding to schools. A study conducted by the Kansas legislature’s division of post audit found a very significant relationship between increases in funding and increases in achievement. In other words, a 10% increase in state funding to schools seems to have produced an increase in state assessment scores of about 9%. As our economy has moved into a crisis mode, school funding has been effected and will likely be effected again this year and beyond. The questions become: 1) how deep will the cuts go, and 2) will it simply improve when the economy picks up speed, or is someone going to have to pay for it? Will a 10% reduction in state aid to schools mean a drop in student performance? Many people who support schools point to the tax incentives as an immediate solution to the funding crisis. 

Since 1995, the Kansas legislature has written into law numerous tax breaks for businesses and corporations. The theory was that it would stimulate business and in turn, the economy. While most people are not willing to raise taxes in this recession, is it time to consider pulling back the tax breaks to increase revenue? Regardless of your view on this topic, I think it’s important that our legislators hear from the public on the impact of these cuts on schools. If the cuts continue, lives will be affected. Students will be affected through reductions in programs and services. Even local businesses will be impacted by the reduction in business with school districts. We’ll continue to look for creative ways to fund programs and share services with neighboring districts. We’d encourage you to talk to your elected officials about how the state can balance the budget without significant cuts.