Ann Mah eNewsletter, April 19, 2021

 

State Board News from Ann Mah Dear Michael Caddell, Wanted to share the latest from the state board of education and legislature. Visit Our Website Opportunites for organizations The state board received funds from the most recent federal CARES bill to provide after school and summer programs statewide. Some of it is to be used to help students with learning loss. We are also looking at offering free experiences for families to help with social/emotional recovery and give families a chance to "get out of the house" and reconnect. So...if you are part of an organization that provides quality after school or summer programs for students, or you are an organization that provides experiences for families and want to be considered, be on the lookout for the upcoming RFP process. The money we have is to take us through 2024, but we believe that COVID recovery will take years for some students and families. Let me know if you have any questions. Civic engagement award Congratulations to the students and staff at North Fairview Elementary School for being a 2020 Civic Advocacy Network award winner. The Seaman School District has been a leader in civic engagement, as Seaman High School was an award winner in 2019. Well done! Area districts recognized Last week school districts across the state were recognized for achieving goals set by the state board for student success. The seven areas recognized were: Academic Preparation; High School Graduation; Postsecondary Success (how many students went on to study beyond high school); Social-emotional growth; Kindergarten Readiness; Individual Plans of Study for all students; and Civic Engagement. Here are our area schools recognized for accomplishments: Auburn-Washburn: Postsecondary Success; Graduation; and Academic Preparation Atchison County Community Schools: Postsecondary Success; Civic Engagement; and Commissioner's Award Baldwin City: Academic Preparation Burlingame: Graduation and Academic Preparation Easton: Graduation and Academic Preparation Holton: Postsecondary Success and Academic Preparation Jefferson County North: Academic Preparation Jefferson West: Postsecondary success; Graduation; and Academic Preparation Kansas City Catholic Diocese (includes Topeka schools): Postsecondary Success; Graduation; Academic Preparation; and Commissioner's Award Kaw Valley: Postsecondary Success and Graduation Lawrence: Academic Preparation Lyndon: Postsecondary Success; Graduation; and Academic Preparation McLouth: Postsecondary Success; Graduation North Lyon County: Postsecondary Success; Graduation; Academic Preparation; Civic Engagement; and Commissioner's Award. Osage City: Academic Preparation Oskaloosa: Academic Preparation Perry-Lecompton: Social-Emotional Growth and Kindergarten Readiness Rock Creek: Postsecondary Success; Graduation; Academic Preparation; and Kindergarten Readiness Seaman: Academic Preparation; Civic Engagement; Social-Emotional Growth; and Individual Plans of Study Shawnee Heights: Postsecondary Success; Graduation; and Academic Preparation Silver Lake: Postsecondary Success; Graduation; and Academic Preparation Valley Falls: Postsecondary Success; Graduation; Social-Emotional Growth; Individual Plans of Study; and Commissioner's Award Wabaunsee: Postsecondary Success; Graduation; and Academic Preparation Wamego: Postsecondary Success; Graduation; and Academic Preparation West Franklin: Academic Preparation Congratulations to these schools, students, and staff for their accomplishments! This is just the first year for the awards. Looking forward to their continued progress. For more information and a list of awards statewide, go to: Kansans Can Star Awards 2020 Legislative action The Legislature sent several education-related bills to the Governor's desk, including new curriculum and graduation requirements, the education budget, and rules about transgender athletes. The Governor has 10 days after receipt of the bills to sign the bills, veto them, or allow them to become law without her signature. She has not acted on any of these bills yet. When she does, I will send out a notice to let you know what's going on. CCommunity Events If you have community events coming up, let me know. This email goes to nearly 3000 homes in Shawnee, Osage, Jefferson, Wabaunsee, Pottawatomie, and Douglas counties. I'd love to help you get the word out!  Just remember to send your activities well ahead of time.   For things to do in Topeka and surrounding area, check out the Visit Topeka calendar, Topeka 365 at: Topeka 365 (topekapartnership.com) Sincerely, Ann Mah www.annmah.org Paid for by Ann Mah for Kansas, Nancy Griffin, Treasurer

Women for Kansas, eNewsletter, April 18, 2021

 

I am incredibly saddened to see so many Republicans in the Kansas legislature overtly continuing their opposition to Medicaid expansion in Kansas. While 38 other states have expanded Medicaid, our legislative leaders have always had an excuse for not extending health care coverage to as many as 165,000 low-income Kansans. First, they said the Affordable Care Act would soon be overturned. Then, as more and more states signed on, they complained that residents of neighboring states would cross over borders and use our health care services, costing Kansas. Of course, all our neighboring states have now expanded, and Kansas stands alone. Why, when some Republican legislators are privately open to expansion? Why, when so many conservative organizations like chambers of commerce, the Kansas Catholic Conference, Kansas Catholic Bishops and numerous churches and businesses support expansion? Kansas has already lost billions to other states because of stubbornness and devotion to Republican party funders. To turn away from this incentive now is foolishness and an embarrassment to Kansas. We must be united in demanding that this year we expand Medicaid in Kansas. Susan Osborne, kansasreflector.com Read full article here: WHO REPRESENTS YOU? If you want to take action and do more than vote, the first step is knowing who represents you in Topeka. Brought to you by Mainstream Coalition, ksleglookup.org is there to help you find your State Representative and Senator, and how to contact them. HOW DOES YOUR LEGISLATOR VOTE? Read biographies, issue positions, ratings and funders, and track how they vote on the issues important to you. Visit Vote Smart's I Spy for more information. The Kansas Reflector welcomes opinion pieces from writers who share our goal of widening the conversation about how public policies affect the day-to-day lives of people throughout our state. Susan Osborne is a member of the state leadership team of Women for Kansas and president of the Women for Kansas Education Foundation.  CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVE. TELL THEM "EXPAND MEDICAID NOW!"

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Kansas Reflector Morning eNewsletter "Read & Reflect", March 29, 2021

 

Morning newsletter of the Kansas Reflector Sherman Smith | Editor in chief Good morning. "What matters is the effect of this law, and the effect is that this law is point blank a voter suppression law." — Sen. Ethan Corson, D-Prairie Village, during debate over legislation to narrow the window in which voters can cast their ballots by mail House advances $284M tax cut in response to Senate’s $470M behemoth TOPEKA — The Kansas House gave initial approval Monday for a tax reform plan responding to the behemoth tax bill passed by the Senate last month. The House proposal incorporates elements of the $470 million Senate plan with a tax increase on out-of-state retailers who sell products online in Kansas. The measure would cost the state an estimated $284 million from 2022 to 2024, with a sizable chunk devoted to allowing Kansans to take the standard deduction on federal income tax returns and claim the benefits of itemized ductions on state income tax returns. Another component would provide tax breaks for multinational corporations. The change would decouple federal and state law, which currently forces individual taxpayers to pick the standard deduction or itemization on both federal and state income tax forms. Some of these costs would be offset by the marketplace facilitator tax — requiring online, out-of-state retailers to collect sales tax for sales above $100,000 annually — but opponents of the bill raised questions about who this bill would benefit. Supporters touted the bill as a reasonable alternative to the plan brought forth by the Senate. Read more. Kansas leaders who blame poor people for their poverty are promoting a false moral narrative Opinion from Kathy Downing, who serves on the state coordinating committee for the Kansas Poor People's Campaign: Poor and low-wealth people are organizing and leading change, countering the false moral narrative that they are to blame for their poverty. Read more. Election reform bills bring fiery debate for their impact on voters Proposed changes to Kansas elections, such as limiting the window for mail-in ballots and making it a crime to help others turn in advance ballots, invite scrutiny from Democrats and an election rights activist. Read more. More than 250 arrested in Shawnee County as joint police operation targets violent crime A 10-day operation by federal, state and local law enforcement to target violent fugitives and gang members in Topeka led to more than 250 arrests and the seizure of 24 firearms, nearly 19 kilograms of illegal drugs and $25,000 in cash. Read more. Senate panel advances plan to install child advocate under Kansas attorney general Republicans in the Senate advance plan to install a child advocate in the Kansas Attorney General’s Office to investigate and report on problems in the foster care system. Read more. Derek Chauvin trial begins with opening statements focused on cause of death, police training Opening statements in the murder trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin indicate the trial will hinge on police training and the cause of George Floyd's death. Read more. Support one-of-a-kind Kansas journalism  with a tax-deductible donation to the Reflector. Help us grow Having trouble viewing this email? View it in your web browser Copyright © 2021 Kansas Reflector, all rights reserved. www.kansasreflector.com | info@kansasreflector.com Did someone forward you this newsletter?  Click here to get it delivered to your inbox. 112 SW 6th, Suite 408, Topeka, Kansas 66603

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