Kansas Liberty reports that the Kansas National Education Association complained in a recent press release that K-12 education is being funded at the 2006 level and stated that legislators should increase taxes to create more school funding.

“Part of the reason we’re in this financial crisis is the irresponsible tax policy of state lawmakers who gave away billions in tax breaks and incentives,” KNEA President Blake West said in the release. “We cannot continue to cut our way out of this financial crisis.”

Such claims are based on partial and misleading data. Base State Aid Per Pupil (BSAPP) funding has been cut but other state, federal and local funding sources have continued to increase. A December 10 report by Kansas Legislative Research Department points out that when all funding sources are included schools are receiving much more than in 2006.

Kansas Liberty asked KSDE about the discrepancy too.

Dale Dennis, deputy commissioner of education for the Kansas State Department of Education, said the discrepancy in reports is a result of the common practice of legislators and school advocates only citing the base state aid K-12 receives for gauging funding levels.

“They use general state aid, which is the primary operating fund,” Dennis told Kansas Liberty. “But they don’t use the total.”

KansasWatchdog and others have repeatedly pointed out this discrepancy and the dishonesty in reporting education funding. Bob Weeks recently reported on a misleading email about school funding.

Here’s a chart KansasWartchdog published on June 8. It’s good to see state officials catching on.