23 September 2005

Governor’s call for school accountability gets national attention
National Governors Association features Sebelius column on school audits

Kansas’ first-in-the-nation school audits are receiving widespread attention. The National Governors Association has chosen Governor Kathleen Sebelius’ recent column on school accountability to be featured on its Web site, www.nga.org.

“We’re proud to be leading the way when it comes to ensuring schools spend money wisely. This national recognition shows that governors in other states are interested in Kansas’ efforts to protect taxpayers by making schools more accountable,” said Governor Sebelius.

Last week, Governor Sebelius announced the results of the first phase of the efficiency review by the independent analytical firm Standard & Poor’s. Sixteen Kansas school districts were identified as getting a good return on taxpayers’ investment in education.

Improving the efficiency and effectiveness of Kansas schools is part of a larger effort to cut waste in government. As Sebelius wrote in the featured column, “Although the S&P analysis is important on its own, it also demonstrates how Kansas government, on my watch, has emphasized and reemphasized the need for accountability in every department and agency. This attention to accountability and efficiency has already saved taxpayers almost $1 billion.”

Using money wisely will have benefits for taxpayers and students, she continued, “We need to set our expectations high – not only for improving student achievement, but also in making sure all schools use our money wisely. Holding school districts accountable ensures all Kansas students will have the best possible opportunity to succeed in the classroom and throughout their lives. And nothing can be more important than that.”

Of the fifteen columns chosen to be featured on the NGA homepage in 2005, this is the second of Governor Sebelius’s op-eds to be selected.