Thoughts after Educational Discussions

Jim Porter of the Kansas State Board of Education evaluates pages of data at an Education Funding Task Force meeting on May 27, 2026. (Photo by Baya Burgess/Kansas Reflector)

Perspective - After reading more about the Kansas Education Funding Task Force and watching some of the recordings from the discussions, it has become very apparent that there is a disparity in understanding how the academic environment and testing actually work.

Imagine an entire year's worth of work narrowed down to one day. As a nurse, how patients are treated on one day. As a lawyer, one day of litigation. As a builder, one day of building. This list can continue, as there are hundreds of different positions available in working environments. Let me add the caveat that no one is going to take into consideration how you are feeling, if it is raining or snowing, if your client is guilty or innocent, etc. If a business is going to be reviewed on one day's performance and one of the employees does not care, so they refuse to work, it won't matter. The overall day's score will then reflect on the business, not on the employee. One day is a snapshot of your entire work year. One day can make a business look as if it has no idea how to complete the work.

Does that seem fair? Think about your job and if your benefits and compensation were based on one day's activities. It might be a good day for you, and it might not be a good day. It won't matter if all of your clients were having a bad day and they all gave you 1 out of 5 stars; that is now your score and how you will be paid for the entire next work year. No promotions, no big jobs - you will not be able to be successful because of your previous score.

Before believing that teachers should receive merit-based pay, think about it - you would want your pay to be reflected in this manner. State scores do not take into consideration the multiple student absences, the number of special education and ELL students, not to mention the parents who do not support their children in the classroom and at home.