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Kansas BOE names Jake Steel as state’s next education commissioner
Kansas public schools will soon have a new chief administrator. The Kansas State Board of Education has named Jake Steel as the state’s next education commissioner.
Kansas BOE names Jake Steel as state’s next education commissioner
Kansas public schools will soon have a new chief administrator. The Kansas State Board of Education has named Jake Steel as the state’s next education commissioner.
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Civil rights • Voter rights • Anti-trans legislation • Abortion • Immigration • Municipalities’ local control • Kansas State Board of Education
MORe STATE GOVERNMENT NEWS
Former GOP Kansas House member guilty of fraud, money laundering in federal COVID-19 case
A former Republican member of the Kansas House deepened his legacy of corruption when a U.S. District Court jury returned guilty verdicts on a dozen felony counts of defrauding federal and state agencies of $355,000 in COVID-19 business recovery funds.
Kelly launches legislative campaign for three-year, $500 million state tax reduction plan
Gov. Laura Kelly initiated a campaign Monday to convince the Republican-led Legislature the revenue surplus was sufficient to end the state sales tax on groceries by April 1, create a three-day sales tax holiday on school supplies and increase the state income tax exemption on Social Security benefits.
Kansas public universities face $1.2 billion in deferred maintenance on core buildings
Restoring life safety and functional integrity to nearly 500 academic or research buildings on state university campuses in the Kansas Board of Regents system would cost an estimated $1.2 billion, officials said Thursday.
Kansas medical marijuana committee holds final meeting, prepares for January legalization push
Medical marijuana may have a future in Kansas after all, though lawmakers are still uncertain whether any medical marijuana legislation will garner support in the Senate, or wither away like previous bills.
Chronic absenteeism among K-12 students across Kansas climbs to 24.5%
The number of K-12 students in Kansas classified as chronically absent from school surged to 24.5% during the 2021-2022 academic year as educators emerged from the darkest depths of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kansas lawmakers say they’re getting closer to more easily expunging criminal records
Multiple bills have tried to change Kansas laws on expungement, but none have passed. The bills do have bipartisan support and are expected to come back up next year.
Lawmakers plan to introduce medical marijuana legislation at start of session
After months of meetings, compiling data and listening to research, lawmakers say they’re ready to take another shot at legalizing medical marijuana.
ACLU of Kansas wants U.S. Supreme Court to ditch state’s congressional map over race
The ACLU of Kansas argues the Kansas Supreme Court incorrectly interpreted federal law when it ruled race wasn’t a factor in the map drawn by the Republican-dominated Kansas Legislature.
Kansas House Democrats pick Vic Miller for minority leader
Vic Miller told fellow House Democrats on Monday they can overcome their “numbers problem” by sticking together and being smarter than their Republican rivals.
House Republicans nominate Hawkins, Croft to lead chamber for next two legislative sessions
Kansas House Republicans nominated a leadership team Monday described as a bulwark of conservatism against the second term of Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly.
Kansas lawmaker plans to reintroduce bill removing childhood sexual abuse lawsuit limits
Lawmakers may expand the rights of child sex abuse victims in the upcoming legislative session, renewing efforts to pass legislation that would require clergy reporting and remove time limits for lawsuit cases involving child abuse.
Kansas community corrections programs decry underfunding, seek $11.5 million increase
The network of community corrections organizations in Kansas proposed an $11.5 million budget increase in the upcoming fiscal year and relaxation of regulations on use of state funding to allow for hiring of about 50 more officers to supervise felony offenders.
Kansas legislators say it’s time to fix mental health bed shortages
After months of meetings and complaints from civilians and law enforcement officials, lawmakers say they have clear targets in addressing the state’s severe mental health care shortages.
Judge blocks Kansas law that banned prescribing abortion pills over telemedicine
Kansas women could soon be able to seek abortion pills through telemedicine appointments after a judge blocked a state law banning the practice.
Kansas education policy reform in upcoming legislative session likely to mirror 2022 bills
The 2023 legislative session in Kansas is expected to generate familiar debates on financing of public schools and vouchers for private schools, transgender student participation in sports and creation of a parental bill of rights touching on class curriculum and library offerings.
Lobbyists with the Kansas Association of School Boards also anticipated legislation would surface to broaden vaccination exemptions for students, encourage school employees to carry firearms and address the longstanding shortfall in state aid to special education.
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