The current K-12 funding formula is not designed to provide schools with the minimum resources they need to achieve required outcomes while also operating and being organized in a cost-effective manner because such a study has never been conducted in Kansas.
The Augenblick & Myers 2001 study that was used by the Montoy courts was supposed
to have taken efficiency into account but, as explained by Caleb Stegall in “
Analysis of Montoy vs. State of Kansas,” A&M chose to ignore efficiency.
A&M presented the court with inflated numbers by deliberately including 50 high-spending districts that did not meet their own criteria for 'successful schools' - those achieving required academic outcomes and also operating in a cost-effective manner.
The subsequent Legislative Post Audit study merely duplicated the bogus A&M study. It is particularly noteworthy that LPA carefully pointed out on page 2 of their report that they were not asked to determine what it would cost to achieve required outcomes AND have schools organized and operating in a cost-effective manner.
The only logical thing to do is to finally have such a study conducted and then fund it.
Dave Trabert