Peter Hancock

I cover K-12 education for the Lawrence Journal-World. That includes Lawrence USD 497 as well as state policy issues from the legislature and State Board of Education. I am a graduate of the Kansas University with bachelor's degrees in political science and education. Before joining the Journal-World, I published an online news service called the Kansas Education Policy Report. I also spent nine years as the statehouse reporter for Kansas Public Radio and worked a couple of years as the spokesman for the (former) Kansas Health Policy Authority. You can follow me on Twitter (@pqhancock) or join our conversation about public schools on the First Bell blog.

Recent stories

Kansas budget proposal to include $16.5 million increase for child welfare services
By Peter Hancock
January 8, 2018
Lt. Gov. Jeff Colyer announced Monday that the administration will seek a $16.5 million funding increase over two years to bolster child welfare services at the Department for Children and Families.
Orman launches bid for Kansas governor
By Peter Hancock
December 13, 2017
Johnson County businessman Greg Orman filed paperwork Wednesday, Dec. 6, to launch an independent campaign for Kansas governor in 2018.
A teenager could become Kansas governor; four of them show off political skills at Lawrence forum
By Peter Hancock
October 21, 2017
Many people scoffed earlier this year when they realized Jack Bergeson, a 16-year-old high school student from Wichita, had filed paperwork with the Kansas Secretary of State’s office to run for governor.
Upcoming Kansas governor is a surgeon and a Brownback loyalist
By Peter Hancock
August 1, 2017
Jeff Colyer is preparing to become Kansas’ next governor after nearly a decade helping fellow conservative Republicans shape health care policy by drawing on his background as a plastic surgeon who squeezed in medical relief missions to disaster and war zones.
Unanimous decision by Kansas Supreme Court: School financing system does not meet constitutional requirements
By Peter Hancock
March 2, 2017
The Kansas Supreme Court on Thursday declared that funding for public schools in the state is unconstitutionally low, and it gave the Legislature until June 30 to come up with a response, setting up another possibility that it could order the closing of public schools if lawmakers fail to come up with a satisfactory solution.
Kansas AG asks Trump to repeal EPA regulations on climate, water quality
By Peter Hancock
December 28, 2016
Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt has joined his counterparts in more than 20 states urging President-elect Donald Trump’s administration to immediately repeal new regulations dealing with climate change and water quality, claiming those regulations are “illegal.”
Kansas conservative think tank launching its own news service
By Peter Hancock
December 14, 2016
In a move that some experts see as a growing trend in the news media, a conservative think tank in Kansas with close ties to billionaire brothers Charles and David Koch has announced it is launching its own news service to combat what it sees as bias in traditional news outlets.
New forecasts show huge budget holes ahead for Kansas; Democrat worries of state layoffs
By Peter Hancock
November 17, 2016
New state revenue forecasts were released Thursday showing the state of Kansas will face a revenue shortfall of nearly $350 million in the current fiscal year, and another $583 million in the next fiscal year that begins July 1.
Kansas Supreme Court accepts latest school funding changes; up next, the adequacy question
By Peter Hancock
June 29, 2016
The Kansas Supreme Court said Tuesday that it is satisfied with the Legislature’s action last week addressing school funding equity, and it will not issue any other remedial orders such as closing public schools.
Kansas Legislature passes school finance bill; Brownback says he will sign it
By Peter Hancock
June 25, 2016
Kansas lawmakers on Friday night passed a school funding equity bill that they believe will satisfy the Kansas Supreme Court without taking money out of general state aid for school districts.

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