Signed by Governor Sam Brownback

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to adopt a conference report that appropriates funds to certain school districts.

Highlights:

• Appropriates the following amounts to the Department of Education for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2014 (Sec. 6):
• $1.03 million for the special education services aid; and
• $17.84 million for the general state aid.

• Appropriates the following amounts to the Department of Education for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015 (Sec. 7):
• $82,500 for operating expenditures;
• $578,363 for the special education services aid;
• $11.72 million for the general state aid; and
• $109.27 million for the supplemental general state aid. 

• Requires the base state aid per pupil to be at least $3,838 for the 2014-2015 school year and each school year thereafter (Sec. 37). 

• Authorizes a school board to adopt a local option budget of up to 33 percent of state financial aid to the district in the current school year by passage of a resolution to be held before August 1 of the initial school year (Sec. 42). 

• Establishes a tax credit to a scholarship granting organization which participates in a low income students’ scholarship program, which provides eligible students an opportunity to attend schools of their parents’ choice (Sec. 57). 

• Establishes the “K-12 Student Performance and Efficiency Commission” to study and make recommendations to the legislature regarding opportunities to make more “efficient” use of education funding (Sec. 29). 

• Prohibits an individual seeking licensure as a teacher at the secondary education level from being required to complete a teacher preparation program prior to licensure if the teacher meets the following requirements (Sec. 30):
• The individual holds a valid teaching license from another jurisdiction;
• The individual has obtained an industry-recognized certificate in a technical profession, has at least 5 years of work experience in the profession, and has secured a teaching position in a technical education course; or
• The individual has obtained at least a bachelor’s degree in the subject of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, finance, or accounting, has at least 5 years of work experience in such field, and has secured a teaching position in the field. 

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to adopt a conference report that appropriates funds to certain school districts.

Highlights:

• Appropriates the following amounts to the Department of Education for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2014 (Sec. 6):
• $1.03 million for the special education services aid; and
• $17.84 million for the general state aid.

• Appropriates the following amounts to the Department of Education for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015 (Sec. 7):
• $82,500 for operating expenditures;
• $578,363 for the special education services aid;
• $11.72 million for the general state aid; and
• $109.27 million for the supplemental general state aid. 

• Requires the base state aid per pupil to be at least $3,838 for the 2014-2015 school year and each school year thereafter (Sec. 37). 

• Authorizes a school board to adopt a local option budget of up to 33 percent of state financial aid to the district in the current school year by passage of a resolution to be held before August 1 of the initial school year (Sec. 42). 

• Establishes a tax credit to a scholarship granting organization which participates in a low income students’ scholarship program, which provides eligible students an opportunity to attend schools of their parents’ choice (Sec. 57). 

• Establishes the “K-12 Student Performance and Efficiency Commission” to study and make recommendations to the legislature regarding opportunities to make more “efficient” use of education funding (Sec. 29). 

• Prohibits an individual seeking licensure as a teacher at the secondary education level from being required to complete a teacher preparation program prior to licensure if the teacher meets the following requirements (Sec. 30):
• The individual holds a valid teaching license from another jurisdiction;
• The individual has obtained an industry-recognized certificate in a technical profession, has at least 5 years of work experience in the profession, and has secured a teaching position in a technical education course; or
• The individual has obtained at least a bachelor’s degree in the subject of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, finance, or accounting, has at least 5 years of work experience in such field, and has secured a teaching position in the field. 

Full Bill Text