Kansas Education Commissioner Drops Voucher Plan

In the face of strong opposition by the Kansas National Education Association and other education groups, state Education Commissioner Bob Corkins said he is withdrawing his plan for providing publicly-funded private school vouchers to students with special needs and students at risk of failing.

Mark Desetti, KNEA director of legislative and political advocacy, said Corkins' proposed voucher scheme was "totally inappropriate."

The Lawrence World-Journal reported on Jan. 6, 2006 that the state board became split 5-5 on the voucher idea after Republican board member Ken Willard, part of the state education board's 6-4 majority that hired Corkins in October 2005, said he would oppose the plan.

Willard said he was convinced by school officials in his district that the voucher scheme was a bad idea.

Corkins was asking the state education board to recommend the voucher plan to the state legislature.

KNEA's Desetti said Corkins "just came out swinging with a particular agenda, and it did frustrate educators. Pulling back is a good idea and may appease some people."

January 2006