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1 day ago | 
sentinelksmo.org | David Hicks
The Texas House and Senate have approved versions of Senate Bill 2, which provides $1 billion to fund Education Savings Accounts (ESAs). This makes the Lone Star State the 18th in the nation to offer public money for educational alternatives, including private schools. Under the Senate bill, students enrolled in accredited private schools would receive $10,000 per year, or $11,500 if the student is disabled.
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3 days ago | 
sentinelksmo.org | David Hicks
The outlook for the Kansas economy continues marching up the rankings of states in the 18th annual Rich States, Poor States survey sponsored by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). The Sunflower State has risen from 39th in 2021 to 30th in 2023, 27th in 2024—to 23rd in 2025.
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6 days ago | 
sentinelksmo.org | David Hicks
A month after his vote derailed a resolution calling for compliance with the federal discrimination laws, USD 469 Board Member Jeff Bollin reluctantly switched sides and supported certifying the district’s compliance. The 4-3 vote on the latest Education Department “reminder” went to all state education agencies (SEAs) urging them to collect certifications from local school boards, while verifying their own compliance as well.
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1 week ago | 
sentinelksmo.org | David Hicks
A new twist on the contentious issue of property taxes is being played out in Paola. A “protest petition” aimed at the USD 368 administration’s idea of producing revenue by implementing a Cost-of-Living Adjustment tax (COLA) on assessed valuations of property is nearing completion. Organizers hope to place the question on the November ballot.
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1 week ago | 
sentinelksmo.org | David Hicks
After toying with the idea of changing performance level descriptors for the state assessment to be even more deceptive, the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) offered the familiar levels of 1, 2, 3, and 4 as 2025 performance levels to illustrate academic progress during its monthly meeting of the State Board of Education.
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2 weeks ago | 
sentinelksmo.org | David Hicks
The City of Lansing is proposing a Reinvestment Housing Incentive District (RHID) using property tax revenue to repay developers over a 20-year period. The idea has drawn opposition, adding another layer to the contentious issue of rising property taxes in Kansas. Opposition leader April Cromer details her group’s concerns:“We have started a petition in Lansing to stop the program as we see no benefit to this. It seems the program is too new to be able to accurately measure any data from it.
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3 weeks ago | 
sentinelksmo.org | David Hicks
A recent retreat attended by Kansas City Kansas Community College Board of Trustees members in which details of a new contract offered to College President Greg Mosier is being criticized by one attendee, and may have an issue with the Kansas Open Meetings Act (KOMA). KOMA applies to all legislative and administrative bodies and agencies of the state, as well as political and taxing subdivisions.
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3 weeks ago | 
sentinelksmo.org | David Hicks
A former speech pathologist at Prairie Park Elementary School in Lawrence faces eight charges of sexual assault involving students at the school. 60-year-old Mark Gridley was originally charged with one count each of aggravated indecent liberties with a child younger than 14 and kidnapping, both felonies. The original charges involved one victim, but subsequent evidence led to the additional alleged victims and charges:Gridley has been with the USD 497 since 2021.
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4 weeks ago | 
sentinelksmo.org | David Hicks
Kansas’ Open Enrollment law allows K-12 students wishing to transfer to another district to do so, depending on the capacity of the receiving district. But as we have reported, some school districts erect artificial barriers in order to avoid accepting out-of-district students.
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1 month ago | 
sentinelksmo.org | David Hicks
Johnson County Community College (JCCC) recently made headlines by announcing the closing of its Office of Inclusion and Belonging soon after receiving the “Dear Colleague Letter” from the U.S. Department of Education reiterating its opposition to racial discrimination under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. The letter included a veiled threat to educational institutions at all levels that non-compliance with Title VI could threaten federal funding.
