Weekly Update

March 29, 2024

The state-level push to end smartphone misuse

This week, American social psychologist and author Jonathan Haidt took the media by storm with the publication of The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness. In his fourth book, Haidt explores the “phone-based childhood” that emerged from the rise of the smartphone, a plethora of social media apps, access to high-speed internet, the decline of play-based childhood, and a rise in fear-based parenting. All of which, he argues, is driving mental illness by depriving children of social interaction, exacerbating addictions, and destroying attention spans.

He suggests four solutions:

No smartphones before high school and suggests flip phones as an alternative
No social media before age 16
Phone-free schools
More free play and responsibility in the real world

Haidt is not the first to weigh in; as the U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy says, social media is a public health issue, and the American Psychological Association issued the “first of its kind” guidance on social media safety.

State policymakers have also jumped into the fray and implemented or proposed legislative solutions around social media and children.

In 2023 and 2024, Missouri lawmakers proposed bills, supported by Aligned, to establish the Media Literacy and Critical Thinking Act to create a pilot program teaching media literacy and internet safety: HB 1513 (Murphy) and SB 1311 (Trent).

Kansas has taken action a step further by introducing legislation, HB 2641, to require school districts to prohibit cell phone usage altogether during school hours. Lawmakers heard this bill in committee last month; two educators and two parents testified in support, while an advocacy organization, Game On for Kansas Schools, argued that this should be a local decision.

Florida became the first state to ban student cell phones during class time. And earlier this month, Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb signed a similar into effect. Expect other states to follow suit.

About Aligned

Aligned is the only state-wide non-profit, nonpartisan business group working in Kansas and Missouri on educational issues impacting the full development of our children, from supporting high-quality early learning to solid secondary programs that provide rigorous academic programs and real-world learning opportunities.

Our vision is that our public education systems in Kansas and Missouri have the resources and flexibility to prepare students to pursue the future of their choice.

We are currently focused on education policies that will strengthen early childhood education, teacher recruitment and retention, and school finance reform.

Learn more about our work.

Senator Andrew Koenig discusses SB 727 with the press before Spring Break. Photo Credit: Missouri Senate Communications. Watch the YouTube clip.

Missouri News

The "bus" pulled up to the House

SB 727, the education omnibus sponsored by Senator Andrew Koenig (R-Manchester), received a hearing this week in the House to a packed room full of proponents and opponents. The bill expands the Empowerment Scholarship Account Program (ESA) statewide and increases the cap from $25 million to $75 million. In 2021, Koenig was the Senate Handler for HB 349 (Christofanelli), which established the ESA program.

In his testimony to the House Committee on Education Reform, Koenig emphasized that he supports school choice and said, "Academic outcomes improve when you introduce choice, parents are happier, and kids get a better education; also, the reality is not every school can meet every need for every child."

Some of the opposition related to the underlying bill and the charter provisions stems from concerns over accountability and the potential for ESAs to divert resources away from traditional public schools. Other groups worry that these programs will lead to government encroachment on existing private and homeschooling settings.

The bill now includes language to allow charter schools to operate in Boone County, which also has drawn opposition. However, there are a plethora of other non-controversial provisions.

Two notable provisions that Aligned strongly supports are an increase to the funding threshold for school districts to provide PreK seats for eligible students the year before Kindergarten from 4% to 8% and the establishment of a differentiated teacher pay scale allowing governing school boards to annually approve pay outside of the teacher scale for hard-to-staff schools or hard-to-fill positions.

Testifying in support:

The Quality Schools Coalition, YES Every Kid, the Missouri Charter Public School Association, Aligned, American Federation for Children, Connections Academy, Parents for Public School Options, Excel Schools, and several parents provided supporting testimony on various provisions within the bill saying it expanded educational opportunities for families and helped to address teacher shortages in the state.

Testifying in opposition:

The Missouri NEA, Missouri AFT, Missouri School Boards Association, Missouri Council of School Administrators, Independent Colleges & Universities of Missouri, Council on Public Higher Education, Saint Louis Public Schools, Cooperating School Districts of Greater Kansas City, Missouri Retired Teachers Association, Equity Education Partnership Action, and several homeschool parents provided opposing testimony.

House Committee Activity

Empowerment Scholarship Accounts

See our report above and read more in our legislative report below.

Student Opportunity Scholarship Accounts

The House Special Committee on Education Reform heard HB 2937 (Davidson), which establishes the “Student Opportunity Savings Accounts Program” to provide direct payments to “eligible pupils” for “qualified expenses” at an approved education entity. The bill sponsor said the intent of the bill was to provide every child in the state an equal opportunity to have state dollars utilized to meet their unique needs or pursue educational, career, or personal choices. Numerous individuals testified in opposition to the bill, saying it would impede the ability of homeschool families to provide an education for their children.

Teacher Salary Increases

The House Ways and Means Committee heard HB 1810 (Riggs), which creates the "Matching Grants for Teachers Plan" that would enable every school district in Missouri to increase teacher salaries by matching state funds with funds of district reserves, up to $1 million for any school district. This is a voluntary program subject to appropriation, just for certified teachers. No supporting or opposing testimony was presented to the committee.

Senate Committee Activity

Classical Education Grant Program

The Senate Select Committee on Empowering Missouri Parents and Children heard SB 1290 (Carter), which establishes a classical education fund to assist school districts with grants in providing classical education, which is defined as education in the liberal arts and sciences. No supporting or opposing testimony was presented to the committee.

Education Stabilization Fund

The Senate Select Committee on Empowering Missouri Parents and Children heard SB 1164 (Black), which would provide additional funding for the foundation formula in years where revenues are less than estimated by establishing the “Education Stabilization Fund.” This allows the Governor to transfer the necessary funds to ensure the free public schools are funded as closely to the fully appropriated amount as practicable. If the balance within the fund exceeds more than 10% of the appropriated foundation formula, the excess funds revert to General Revenue.

Missouri NEA provided supporting testimony stating that education funding remaining stable is critical. No opposing testimony was presented to the committee.

Reports

Read our full unabridged legislative report here.

See all tracked legislation here.

Budget Update

The House Budget Committee completed the markup process for the FY2025 budget which includes nearly $2 billion in cuts from Governor Mike Parson’s original $52.7 billion spending plan. The most significant part of the deduction is from a decline in Medicaid enrollment.

Chairman Cody Smith (R-Carthage) condensed the discussions into less than five hours. Committee members drafted over 100 amendments, but after Chairman Smith announced the four-hour time limit, only fifteen additional amendments were offered in committee. Still included in the budget is a 3.2% pay raise for state workers, an increase in base pay for teachers of $40,000, a fully funded foundation formula, and a 3% increase for institutions of higher education.

Expect House members to debate the 17 budget bills next week. Typically, appropriations bills have a set time limit for full debate, with each party having a predetermined amount of time for each bill, which is determined by the Majority and Minority Floor Leaders. Democratic members are likely to draft and offer numerous amendments to modify the $50.7 billion budget further.

The complete listing of committee changes from the Governor’s recommended FY 2025 Budget can be found here.

In other news

Aligned Priority Bills Report for Missouri

Pre-K expansion and differentiated pay are now part of SB 727.

Early Childhood Education and Childcare

Free and voluntary Pre-K for all students who qualify for free- and reduced lunch

HB 1486 (Shields) - Referred to Senate - Select Committee on Empowering Parents and Children - 3/28/24
SB 871 (Eslinger) -Removed from Senate Hearing Agenda - Senate Select Committee on Empowering Missouri Parents and Children. 3/26/24
SB 727 (Koenig) - Education omnibus with ESA's as underlying bill and Pre-K expansion included. Executive session scheduled in Special Committee on Education Report on 4/2/24.

Childcare tax credit package

HB 1488 (Shields) - Scheduled for executive session in Senate - Fiscal Oversight on 4/2/24.
SB 742 (Arthur) - Placed on Senate Informal Calendar 2/27/24. NO CHANGE.

Teacher Recruitment and Retention

Differentiated Pay

HB 1447 (Lewis) - Placed on Informal Calendar on 3/26/24.
SB 727 (Koenig) - Education omnibus with ESA's as underlying bill and differentiated pay included. Executive session scheduled in Special Committee on Education Report on 4/2/24.

School Finance Reform

Alternative Poverty Metric

SB 1080 (Arthur) - referred to Senate - Select Committee on Empowering Parents and Children on 1/25/24. NO CHANGE.

Other education legislation

Open Enrollment

HB 1989 (Pollitt) - Referred to Senate Committee on Education and Workforce Development on 3/7/24. NO CHANGE.

Accountability Measures

HB 2184 (Haffner) - Scheduled for committee hearing in House -Elementary and Secondary Education on 4/3/24
SB 1366 (Trent) - Voted Do Pass as substituted. 2/21/24. NO CHANGE.

See the status of all Aligned priority bills here.

Kansas News

A flurry in a hurry

It was a quick but packed week in the Kansas Legislature. The House and Senate spent Monday through Wednesday debating and passing over 100 bills. Thursday was technically the last day to consider all non-exempt bills in either chamber, but most Legislators were heading home by Wednesday evening.

This hard work clears the path for conference committees to meet next week, where the House and Senate negotiators iron out differences in any remaining bills. Conference Committee bills can only be amended by the conference committee, and when they come to the floor, it is an up-or-down vote. The first adjournment is scheduled for next Friday, April 5, with the Veto Session beginning on April 29.

While there was no action on the budget this week other than the conference committee meeting to review each chamber's budget, members are ready to begin the meeting on Monday with plans to reach an agreement before the first adjournment. This move signals that lawmakers intend to keep the Veto Session short and (hopefully) sweet.

House Passes K-12 Education Budget Amidst Special Ed Funding Debate

The Kansas House passed SB 387 with a narrow 65-58 vote, which included substitute language allocating $6.6 billion primarily drawn from general revenue. However, the move to exceed cost calculations related to special education has ignited debate, as some oppose tying $75 million in special education funding to future excess cost modifications.

If the modifications are not ratified into law by July 1, 2025, the bill mandates the withdrawal of $75 million in state general fund money. These modifications propose integrating local option budget funds into the calculation process, necessitating school districts to deduct the portion allocated for special education before determining excess costs.

Proponents argue that incorporating local option budget funds into calculations would enhance accuracy and lead to a fairer distribution of resources for special education. However, critics worry that logistical complexities place excess burdens on school districts already facing numerous challenges.

This bill includes a significant addition from HB 2594, which sets up the Education Funding Task Force to replace the Special Education and Related Services Funding Task Force. The new task force will analyze the current school finance system, academic reporting requirements, and achievement goals. It will propose recommendations for a new school finance formula, possible revisions to special education funding distribution, and other suggestions by January 11, 2027, before the current formula expires on July 1, 2027.

Legislature Reaches Compromise on Office of Early Childhood Bill

The Kansas legislature approved SB 96 by a vote of 107-10. This bill includes compromise language related to childcare regulations and establishes the Office of Early Childhood. By merging HB 2785 and SB 96, the House Commerce, Labor, and Economic Development Committee restored the Office of Early Childhood's original provisions and removed contentious language related to child-to-staff ratios.

Rep. Tory Marie Blew worked with the governor's office to ensure the language would not lead to another veto. SB 96 mandates that the Kansas Department of Health and Environment update its ratio table by July 1.

Blew's amendmen t reverts the Office of Early Childhood to its original format outlined in HB 2785 and consolidates nearly 20 early childhood programs into a single entity under the executive branch, which will help address the current fragmentation among four state entities providing early childhood services.

The bill also stipulates the inclusion of legislators in the revamped children's cabinet, expanding its membership to 17 individuals.

Senate passes blueprint for literacy bill.

The Senate passed the blueprint for the literacy bill Wednesday by a 35-3 vote. SB 532 overhauls how universities prepare educators to teach reading and provide testing and interventions for students with dyslexia and other reading challenges. The bill will now move to the House for consideration.

Read our full Kansas legislative report.

Key 2024 Legislative Deadlines

April 5 - First Adjournment (Drop Dead Day)
April 29 - Veto Session begins

In other news

Partnership puts Durable Skills in high schools

This month, America Succeeds announced an exciting partnership to integrate the Durable Skills framework into Edmentum’s middle and high school Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses catalog.

“Secondary education is undergoing a significant transformation, and a major part of that involves new ways of thinking on how to better prepare students for their future careers,” said Jamie Candee, CEO of Edmentum. “We are excited that this partnership enables us to integrate the Durable Skills framework into Edmentum’s CTE courses and help students develop the critical skills they will need throughout their lives and across any career path they may choose.”

Read the press release here.

America Succeeds also issued an update that celebrates the success of its state partners, including Aligned, and highlights state-by-state achievements.

We are thrilled to see the great work of state-focused organizations like ours and are proud to be part of this network.

Happy Easter/Happy Spring.

Best,