5 April 2024
TOPEKA (KSNT)- Kansas lawmakers advanced an education funding bill on Thursday. It passed the House by slim margins, lawmakers voting 65-58 to adopt the conference committee report for the proposal.
The bill, SB 387, sets aside billions of dollars for K-12 schools from fiscal year 2024 through fiscal year 2026.
“It is the transparent and accountable answer in the changes that we’ve made in the accountability that we have included. and I would ask you to stand with kids,” said Representative Kristey Williams, Republican Chair of the House K-12 Education Budget Committee.
Williams argued that the proposal meets constitutional funding requirements for special education, but public education advocates disagree.
“A one-time $77.5 million insertion and some accounting gimmicks does almost nothing to address the $400 million statewide shortfall,” Leah Fliter, Kansas Association of School Boards
Fliter said her group is advocating for a phased-in approach over the next four to five years with $70-80 million set aside per year to meet constitutional funding requirements.
Governor Laura Kelly is also siding with public education advocates. She indicated she’s not a fan of the proposal, speaking with reporters on Thursday.
“I didn’t like the direction it was going in. So, unless they did a U-Turn on a couple of things, I probably won’t like it,” Kelly said.
To read the full conference committee report for SB 387, click here.