State officials try to redefine 'adequate' education

By David Harrison, Stateline staff writer



"ADEQUATE" EDUCATION: Officials in Kansas and New Hampshire have floated the idea of redefining the level of education the state should provide in light of the fiscal crisis. Like most states, Kansas and New Hampshire are constitutionally required to offer an “adequate” or “suitable” public education. But defining those terms has led to a spate of lawsuits from school districts, arguing that states were not providing enough funding to satisfy the constitutional requirements. Courts have sided with the school districts, forcing state governments to commit to a certain level of funding. In Kansas, where a lawsuit is under way, Governor Sam Brownback wants the legislature to define a “suitable” education, leading some education advocates to fear that the Republican-controlled legislature would set the bar too low, the Kansas City Star reports. In New Hampshire, Represenative Ralph Boehm wants to exclude art, world language, health and technology classes from the state’s definition of adequate public education, according to the Concord Monitor.

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http://www.stateline.org/live/details/story?contentId=546073

Just shared the link with a bunch of my fellow Ed students...