Issue Position: Education Improve

Issue Position

Improve Education
As promised, Representative Tarwater made Kansas schools his #1 priority. The K-12 education funding formula has been the single largest issue looming over the 2017 and 2018 legislative sessions. The Kansas Supreme Court's Gannon ruling stated that funding levels were not adequate, and directed the legislators to focus on the students performing in the lowest 25%. In 2017, the legislature passed a bill that allocated $186 million to the 2017-2018 school year and an additional $100 million to the 2018-2019 school year. To address the 25% underperforming students, the new formula included increases for special needs, at-risk students, bi-lingual funds and full day kindergarten. The Legislators had to raise taxes to pay for this change. Unfortunately, the Supreme Court concluded that was not enough. During the 2018 legislative session, the legislature had to go back to the drawing board to re-address the funding formula.

Representative Tarwater will always remember that he represents parents and their children that attend the schools. He represented the schools to provide them the tools they need to ensure that every child receives personalized student centered instruction to meet their individual needs. However, this does not always seem to be the case. Despite the increased funding for at-risk and special needs students, some school districts aren't addressing the needs of their communities with the additional funding provided.

This is where Representative Tarwater sees his work for the next session. "We must direct the dollars to the classroom. The children that need the most help are appropriated more dollars. We absolutely have to make sure those dollars are used to help those that need it the most" -- Representative Sean Tarwater.

Representative Tarwater did just that. He made great strides this year in Education Committee. Because of his hard work, Sean was assigned to the Governors Education council in May of 2018. He is one of only 3 house members on this council. This will be a huge advantage for the schools and students in District 27.

Sean's and his wife, Lexie, both come from families of teachers and they understand how great teachers are and what they mean to the community. Sean will show his appreciation for teachers by championing his HERO bill. During his terms on the Finance Council at his children's school, Sean learned how school budgets work, how to fight for additional funding when needed, and how to make every dollar count.

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