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School choice in Kansas

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School choice
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School choice in the U.S.
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School choice is a term that refers to programs offering alternatives to assigned local public school options. Public school choice options include open enrollment policies,magnet schools, andcharter schools. Other options includeschool vouchers, scholarship tax credits, and education savings accounts (ESAs).[1][2]

HIGHLIGHTS
  • According to the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, a charter school advocacy group, there were an estimated 10 total charter schools in Kansas in the 2015-2016 school year. These schools enrolled approximately 2,800 students.
  • In Kansas, there were 41,520 students enrolled in 360 private schools in fall 2013, accounting for roughly 7.94 percent of the state's total school-age population.
  • Implemented in 2015, the Kansas Tax Credit for Low Income Students Scholarship Program allows corporations to claim tax credits for contributions to Scholarship Granting Organizations, which provide private school scholarships to low-income students in underperforming public schools.

    • Proponents argue that school choice programs improve educational outcomes by expanding opportunity and access for historically disadvantaged students. In addition, advocates claim that school choice programs empower parents and improve traditional public schools through competition. Critics contend that these programs divert funds from traditional public schools, thereby generating unequal outcomes for students. In addition, some critics argue that school voucher programs wrongly direct tax dollars to religious organizations, which operate many private schools.

    Educational choice options

    See also:Number of schools by school type in the United States

    Charter schools

    See also:Charter schools in Kansas

    Charter schools are public schools operated independently of the public school system, either by nonprofit or for-profit organizations. Although they are publicly funded, charter schools are exempt from many of the requirements imposed by state and local boards of education regarding hiring and curriculum. As public schools, charter schools cannot charge tuition or impose special entrance requirements; students are typically admitted through a lottery process if demand exceeds the number of spaces available in a school. Generally speaking, charter schools receive a percentage of per-pupil funds from state and local boards of education for operational costs based on enrollment. In most states, they do not receive funds for facilities or start-up costs; therefore, they must rely to some extent on private donations. The federal government also provides revenues through special grants.[3][4][5]

    According to theNational Alliance for Public Charter Schools, a charter school advocacy group, there were an estimated 10 total charter schools in Kansas in the 2015-2016 school year. These schools enrolled approximately 2,800 students. Overall, charter school students accounted for 0.57 percent of total public school enrollment in Kansas in 2015.[6]

    Charter schools, 2015-2016
    StateTotal number of charter schoolsEstimated enrollmentPercentage of total public school enrollment
    Kansas102,8000.57%
    Missouri6820,8002.28%
    Nebraska000.00%
    Oklahoma3520,0002.92%
    United States total6,8242,930,6005.85%
    Note: The percentages in the column labeled "Percentage of total public school enrollment" were calculated by taking the estimated number of charter school students in a given state and dividing by the total estimated number of public school students in that state in 2015. Total public school enrollment estimates came from the National Center for Education Statistics.
    Source:National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, "A Closer Look at the Charter School Movement," February 3, 2016

    Magnet schools

    See also:Magnet school participation statistics

    Magnet schools, or theme-based schools, are publicschools of choice that utilize specialized subject areas or innovative learning approaches to attract students from more diverse backgrounds. Magnet schools were first formed to desegregate public schools through choice rather than force. Magnet schools can reach beyond the boundaries of school districts, but they are still managed and funded publicly by local districts even though they are centered around specialized themes and subjects.[7][8]

    According to the National Center for Education Statistics, there were 3,254 magnet schools in the United States in the 2013-2014 school year, 33 of which were in Kansas. According to Public School Review, those 33 magnet schools served 15,024 students in Kansas, 63 percent of whom were racial/ethnic minorities. The average student-teacher ratio in Kansas' magnet schools was 15:1. The table below presents this information for Kansas and surrounding states.[9][10]

    Magnet schools, 2013-2014
    StateNumber of magnet schoolsTotal enrollmentMinority enrollment percentageStudent-teacher ratio
    Kansas3315,02463%15:1
    Missouri2914,19979%14:1
    NebraskaN/AN/AN/AN/A
    OklahomaN/AN/AN/AN/A
    United States total3,2542,549,825N/AN/A
    Note: "N/A" indicates that information was not available, either because the state does not have magnet schools or because the data were not reported.
    Source:Public School Review, "Find Public Schools," accessed May 24, 2016

    Open enrollment policies

    According to the Education Commission of the States, there are two primary types of open enrollment policies:[11]

    1. Underintra-district enrollment policies, students may transfer to schools within their home districts.
    2. Underinter-district enrollment policies, students may transfer to schools outside of their home districts.

    Open enrollment policies may be either mandatory or voluntary. Undermandatory programs, districts must allow for open enrollment. Undervoluntary programs, districts may choose whether to allow for open enrollment.[11]

    Kansas enforces a voluntary inter-district open enrollment policy.[11]

    Private schools

    Private schools are operated by private organizations as opposed to government entities. Private schools typically rely on tuition, private grants, and donations for funding. Because private schools are not operated or funded directly by government entities, they may operate under different personnel and curricular standards. Private schools are often associated with religious institutions. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, there were 5,395,740 students enrolled in 33,620 private schools nationwide in fall 2013. This accounted for approximately 10 percent of the total school-age population.[12][13]

    In Kansas, there were 41,520 students enrolled in 360 private schools in fall 2013, accounting for roughly 7.94 percent of the state's total school-age population. The table below presents this information for Kansas and surrounding states.

    Private schools, fall 2013
    StateNumber of private schoolsEnrollmentEnrollment as a percentage of total school-age population
    Kansas36041,5207.94%
    MissouriN/A139,57013.67%
    Nebraska22042,30012.66%
    Oklahoma17032,7404.79%
    United States total33,6205,395,74010.04%
    Note: The column labeled "Enrollment as a percentage of total school-age population" was calculated by taking the total private school enrollment in a given state and dividing by the total school-age population of that state. Figures for total school-age population were obtained from the National Center for Education Statistics.
    Sources:National Center for Education Statistics, "Table 101.40. Estimated total and school-age resident populations, by state: Selected years, 1970 through 2014," accessed May 24, 2016
    National Center for Education Statistics, "Table 205.80. Private elementary and secondary schools, enrollment, teachers, and high school graduates, by state: Selected years, 2003 through 2013," accessed May 24, 2016

    Homeschooling

    According to the National Center for Education Statistics, there were approximately 1.7 million homeschooled students in the United States as of 2012. This accounted for roughly 3.4 percent of the total school-age population.[14][15]

    According to the Home School Legal Defense Association, homeschools in Kansas are considered private schools. A parent or guardian must do the following in order to homeschool his or her child:[16]

    1. Register with the Kansas State Board of Education
    2. Provide 186 days of instruction

    There are no required subjects that must be covered.

    Online learning

    See also:Blended learning

    According to the Evergreen Education Group, 24 states operated state virtual schools in the 2014-2015 school year. State virtual schools are "operational intermediate supplier organizations that provide online learning programs to schools statewide." State virtual schools are created by legislative or state agency action and are "usually funded in part or entirely by a state appropriation or grant." As of the 2014-2015 school year, Kansas did not have a state virtual school.[17]

    According to the Center for Education Reform, Kansas was home to eight virtual charter schools as of May 2016. For a complete listing of these schools, visit thiswebsite.[18][19]

    Financial assistance

    Tax credits

    Implemented in 2015, the Kansas Tax Credit for Low Income Students Scholarship Program enables corporations to claim a tax credit for contributions to Scholarship Granting Organizations. Scholarship Granting Organizations then provide private school scholarships to low-income students in underperforming public schools. In the 2015-2016 school year, 73 students participated in the program. The average scholarship amount was $1,485.[20]

    Historical events

    2020

    Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue
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    Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue
    Media coverage and commentary
    U.S. Supreme Court 2019-2020 term
    Blaine Amendment (U.S. Constitution)
    Blaine amendments in state constitutions
    School choice on the ballot
    Education on the ballot
    See also:Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue

    On June 30, 2020, theU.S. Supreme Court decidedEspinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue, which concerned whether the government can exclude religious institutions from student-aid programs. The case related toArticle X, Section 6 of theMontana Constitution, also known as Montana’sBlaine Amendment.[21]

    In its 5-4 opinion, the court held that the application ofArticle X, Section 6 violated thefree exercise clause of the U.S. Constitution. The majority held Article X, Section 6 barred religious schools and parents who wished to send their children to those schools from receiving public benefits because of the religious character of the school.[22]

    The case addressed the tension between the free exercise and Establishment clauses of the U.S. Constitution—where one guarantees the right of individuals' free exercise of religion and the other guarantees that the state won't establish a religion—and the intersections of state constitutions with state law and with the U.S. Constitution.

    Kansas is one of the states with a Blaine Amendment.


    Studies and reports

    Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice

    Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice

    In January 2016, the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice released a report ranking school choice programs across the nation by participation. Kansas’s Tax Credit for Low Income Students Scholarship Program ranked 52nd nationwide, with 73 students participating. For the full report, visit thiswebsite.[23]

    That same month, the Friedman Foundation released the 2016 edition of "The ABCs of School Choice," a comprehensive report detailing and commenting upon every school choice program in the nation. To access the full report, clickhere.

    School choice ballot measures

    See also:School choice on the ballot andList of Kansas ballot measures

    Ballotpedia has tracked no statewide ballot measures relating to school choice in Kansas.

    School choice legislation

    The following is a list of recent charter school bills that have been introduced in or passed by theKansas state legislature. To learn more about each of these bills, click the bill title. This information is provided byBillTrack50 andLegiScan.

    Note: Due to the nature of the sorting process used to generate this list, some results may not be relevant to the topic. If no bills are displayed below, no legislation pertaining to this topic has been introduced in the legislature recently.

    Recent news

    The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the termsKansas education choice. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

    See also

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    External links

    Footnotes

    1. ↑National Conference of State Legislatures, "School Choice and Charters," accessed June 18, 2014
    2. ↑Friedman Foundation for School Choice, "What is School Choice?" accessed June 18, 2014
    3. ↑National Charter School Resource Center, "Understanding Charter Schools," accessed April 29, 2104
    4. ↑Uncommon Schools, "Frequently Asked Questions About Public, Charter Schools," accessed April 30, 2014
    5. ↑The Center for Education Reform, "Just the FAQs--Charter Schools," accessed April 30, 2014
    6. ↑National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, "A Closer Look at the Charter School Movement," February 3, 2016
    7. ↑Public School Review, "What is a magnet school?" accessed December 9, 2014
    8. ↑Magnet Schools of America, "What are magnet schools?" accessed December 9, 2014
    9. ↑National Center for Education Statistics, "Table 3. Number of operating public elementary and secondary schools, by school type, charter, magnet, Title I, and Title I schoolwide status, and state or jurisdiction: School year 2013–14," accessed May 24, 2016
    10. ↑Public School Review, "Find Public Schools," accessed May 24, 2016
    11. ↑11.011.111.2Education Commission of the States, "Open Enrollment 50-State Report," updated November 2015
    12. ↑National Center for Education Statistics, "Table 205.80. Private elementary and secondary schools, enrollment, teachers, and high school graduates, by state: Selected years, 2003 through 2013," accessed May 24, 2016
    13. ↑National Center for Education Statistics, "Table 101.40. Estimated total and school-age resident populations, by state: Selected years, 1970 through 2014," accessed May 24, 2016
    14. ↑Coalition for Responsible Home Education, "Homeschooling Numbers," accessed May 25, 2016
    15. ↑National Center for Education Statistics, "Table 206.10. Number and percentage of homeschooled students ages 5 through 17 with a grade equivalent of kindergarten through 12th grade, by selected child, parent, and household characteristics: 2003, 2007, and 2012," accessed May 25, 2016
    16. ↑Home School Legal Defense Association, "Kansas," accessed May 25, 2016
    17. ↑Evergreen Education Group, "Keeping Pace with K-12 Digital Learning, 2015," accessed May 25, 2016
    18. ↑Note: This tally includes both full-time online schools and "blended learning" environments, in which online learning methods are combined with traditional face-to-face instruction.
    19. ↑Center for Education Reform, "Find a Charter School," accessed May 30, 2016
    20. ↑Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice, "Kansas – Tax Credit for Low Income Students Scholarship Program," accessed May 30, 2016
    21. ↑Supreme Court of the United States,Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue: "Petition for a writ of certiorari," accessed July 3, 2019
    22. ↑Supreme Court of the United States,Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue, decided June 30, 2020
    23. ↑Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice, "America's School Choice Programs Ranked by Participation, 2016 Edition," January 27, 2016
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