Gov. Laura Kelly signed legislation that allocates $6.6 billion to K-12 public schools, including $75 million in new money for special education, but vetoed language designed to funnel safety grant cash to a specific software company.
Kansas lawmakers have sent a bipartisan school finance bill that will shape state education funding for the next three years to the governor’s desk, packaging a $75 million increase in special education funding into the bill.
Kansas lawmakers are trying to overhaul special education funding for public schools in a move condemned by public school advocates.
As enrollment keeps trending downward, Lawrence school board members on Monday heard some additional details about possible ways to cut costs, including hiring specialized positions rather than going through contractors.
Gov. Laura Kelly widened an agenda dedicated to public education, Medicaid expansion and broad-based tax reform Wednesday in the annual State of the State speech.
The task force created by the Kansas Legislature to resolve funding challenges in K-12 special education endorsed a four-year plan Friday adding $82.7 million annually in appropriations to local school districts.
Rep. Kristey Williams and Sen. Renee Erickson agreed there was little value in convening a task force to study the state’s shortfall in funding public school special education programs because the financial issues were too complex for such a group to unravel and the only remedy suggested by education advocacy groups was too simplistic to warrant examination.
A legislative committee on education offered a glimpse at what Kansas lawmakers could propose during the 2024 session. The Legislature hinted at changing the formula for funding special education and pushing more school choice measures.
Maya Hodison/Lawrence Times
Lawrence school board candidates during the Chamber’s forum on Wednesday gave their thoughts on past board decisions as well as their visions for public education if they’re elected.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
The Lawrence school board on Monday will hear an update on the district’s special education work as well as consider approving a consultant contract for enrollment projections.
