David Hicks

David Hicks writes for The Sentinel, a publication focusing on news and issues in the state of Kansas.

Public Education
Indiana touts 3rd grade reading gains; Kansas lowers proficiency standards and skirts state law

(The Sentinel) – Third-grade reading proficiency is at 87% in Indiana, a phenomenal increase of five points over a year ago. In Kansas, only 52% reached… Read More

November 28, 2025
Public Education
Former Kansas elementary teacher pleads no contest to charges of taking indecent liberties with a child

​(The Sentinel) – Jerome Riscovallez, 55, a former Henry Leavenworth Elementary School teacher, avoided trial later this month by entering two pleas of no contest to charges… Read More

September 12, 2025
Public Education
Kansas school district issues transgender policy, testing state law that banned males from female sports

​(The Sentinel) – In a challenge to Kansas state law, Lawrence USD 497 has issued a policy for the new school year on the interaction with transgender, non-binary, and gender… Read More

August 15, 2025
Government
Kansas Ed Dept. passes the buck to Gov. Kelly on Kobach guidance to remove gender identity references from state school lunch contracts

​(The Sentinel) – The ongoing disagreement between Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach, the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) and the Kansas State Board of Education (KSBOE) is intensifying over… Read More

July 16, 2025
Public Education
Kansas among 22 states allowing in-state tuition for undocumented students

​(The Sentinel) – For more than 20 years, the State of Kansas has offered in-state tuition to undocumented students since then-Governor Kathleen Sebelius signed … Read More

July 15, 2025