Legislation impacts K-12 teaching opportunities in Kansas
- MADDY MOLONEY
@KansanNews
After graduating from the School of Education in December, Tyler Engler returned to his home state of Minnesota to teach eighth graders.
Engler said the decision to return to his home state was not difficult, but the political climate for teachers in Kansas also played a factor.
"They are really good to their teachers here in Minnesota," Engler said. "They pay on a higher scale than in Kansas and the benefits are better."
From 2013 to 2014, University education students employed in Kansas dropped from 86 percent to 76 percent, according to the University Career Center Destination Survey. The shift in teaching graduates moving out of state comes at a time when the political climate is making teaching in Kansas less appealing. Kelli Thomas, associate dean in the School of Education, said that the school of education is aware of this shift.
"There is reason to be concerned. Anecdotally, we have heard more students than just in the past are looking outside of Kansas," Thomas said. "I wouldn't say it is a large enough number that we need to be alarmed, but we need to be aware."
Last year, during ongoing efforts to close the state's budget gap, the Kansas Legislature cut $54 million from the state's K-12 education funding system by creating a new block funding model. Previously, school districts were funded by a per-student formula.
a lawsuit, Gannon II v. Kansas, that made its way to the Kansas Supreme Court. In mid-February the court ruled that the block funding model was unconstitutional. The Legislature has until the end of the fiscal year, June 30, to create a constitutional funding model or public schools will close.
Rep. Boog Highberger, D-Lawrence, said the court's decision was a step in the right direction, and anticipates a subsequent ruling that says Kansas is not meeting the adequate funding for the state's K-12 education.
The legislation resulted in
"I don't understand the hostility the majority party has towards public education," Highberger said. "I mean they perceive it as a threat. They mistrust it."
Highberger said certain members of the legislature would be happy to privatize the entire education system, which is what is causing the strained climate for teachers.
"We have to show [teachers] more respect," he said. "As a legislature we need to give some indication that we appreciate their efforts and we respect what they are doing. Pay them better. Make sure they are safe from [easy prosecution]."
"It is a time in our state where we are hearing a lot of the things that schools are challenged with," Thomas said.
positions
Kansas elementary school teachers earn on average $11,820 less than the national average, according to the Bureau of Labor.
During the 2015 legislative session, Kansas was one of four states to remove tenure for teachers, according to the Education Commission of the States. Thomas said because of the recent legislation, students are thinking beyond Kansas when seeking teaching
The Kansas political climate, in addition to an aging population, has caused a shortage of teachers. In 2014, 872 Kansas teachers retired, an 11.4 percent increase from 2011. According to Lori Adams of the Kansas State Department of Education, in 2014, 501 Kansas teachers left the state compared to 443 teachers in 2011.
Despite the recent legislation, there are still teachers who choose to remain in Kansas. Kelly Klueag, a fourth year high school science teacher in Kansas City, Kan., chose to stay in Kansas after graduation, rather than return home to St. Louis. Klueag said although being a teacher in Kansas is difficult right now, she is happy with her decision.
"The schools are great; they really do make do with what they are given." Klueag said. "Our kids are awesome here in Kansas and we really do have a lot of dedicated teachers who have stuck around through everything."
Nonetheless, Klueag has witnessed experienced teachers leaving, and colleagues applying for a license transfer to places like Missouri or other bordering states. Klueag said many fellow teachers are worried that Senate bill 56 would punish teachers for exposing students to "harmful materials."
"Im at an urban school, so often sex education is worrisome," Klueag said. "We already have a lot of teen pregnancies and issues regarding
safe sex, so I can't imagine the safe road by opting out."
At the University, Thomas said the School of Education has seen an increase in enrollment just as education programs across the nation are seeing a decline. The University is ranked ninth nationally among public schools for best school of education by the U.S. News and World Report. Districts in Missouri have recently put up giant blue billboards across the state line encouraging Kansas teachers to come work for their school districts.
Engler said he saw many of his classmates leave Kansas to teach in other states, especially California, which has a similar deficit of teachers.
"You can get a job other places and they will pay you the same or better," Engler said. "Why wouldn't you leave Kansas? What is Kansas giving you that no other state is?"
Despite the troubles the state is running into, Thomas and Klueng agree there are still many good reasons for University graduates to teach in Kansas, such as the state's sense of community and pride. Both said despite the struggles the state is having the schools are still very good.
"Our teachers and school administrators in the state are high quality and very caring,very competent and [the schools are] very established environments where you would want to be working and teaching," Thomas said. "It's quite phenomenal that our schools and teachers are continuing to offer such excellent (educational) opportunities in light of all the challenges they are facing."
Engler said he would not completely rule out working
Graphic by Sam Billman/KANSAN An increased number of education students are leaving the state after graduation because of the political climate in Kansas regarding public education.
in Kansas, and likes working in more rural areas such as the Olathe or Blue Valley school districts, rather than urban areas. However, he wants to teach in a state where teachers are valued.
"If there was an opening in Kansas that I would want to teach at I would, but it would
take a perfect situation for me to do that," Engler said. "I would much rather teach in Minnesota, not only because of my family but because of the politics that play into it."
Edited by Michael Portman