Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that amends various educational reforms and regulations in the state of Kansas.

Highlights:

• Amends various educational reforms and regulations in the state of Kansas by incorporating several previous bills provisions, including, but not limited to (Sec. 1-23):

• Revising school district open enrollment procedures and requirements to prioritize students who are residents of Kansas over students who are residents of another state;

• Providing for continued enrollment of students who attended a school district of non-residence in the 2023-2024 school year;

• Authorizing school districts to deem students as not in good standing prior to enrollment; and requiring publication of nonresident student transfer policies on the school district website;

• Limiting the legislative option to purchase school district buildings to buildings that were formerly used as attendance centers;

• Authorizing students enrolled in virtual schools to participate in activities that are regulated by the Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) at such student’s resident school district without a minimum enrollment requirement in such resident school district and amending part-time virtual student funding.

• Establishing the Education Funding Task Force and abolishing the Special Education and Related Services Funding Task Force;

• Requiring each school district to establish an at-risk student accountability plan and show academic improvement in certain student subgroups and students identified as eligible for at-risk programs;

• Prohibiting the Kansas State Board of Education from revising the curriculum standards in English language arts (ELA) and mathematics until 75% of all students achieve proficiency;

• Requiring school districts to comply with all state laws, rules, and regulations to maintain accreditation.

• Establishing requirements for the determination of virtual school state aid for adult students;

• Revising the special education state aid statewide excess costs calculation to count additional funding;

• Requiring the State Board of Education to determine each school district’s excess costs and to establish a special education state aid equalization distribution schedule to distribute certain amounts of special education state aid;

• Requiring school districts to transfer amounts attributable to the special education weighting from their supplemental general funds to their special education funds;

• Reinstates the exclusion of bilingual, at-risk, transportation, CTE, and special education weightings;

• The governor’s budget recommendations for the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE), including:

• Remove the governor’s 5-year special education funding plan

• $75 million State General Fund (SGF) and $2.5 million American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to special education for FY 2025;

• Rescind $30 million Childcare Accelerator Grant – Kansas Children’s Cabinet.

• Stipulate the $5 million Public-Private Partnership Grant is for one year – Kansas Children’s Cabinet;

• Rescind $815,000 Children’s Initiatives Fund (CIF) for Specialty Care Program –

• Kansas Children’s Cabinet;

• Rescind $3 million from the Mental Health Intervention Team (MHIT);

• Restrict $1.9 million enhancement for professional development state aid for science of reading and math PD;

• Prioritize $1 million enhancement for teacher mentors to K-5 teachers implementing the science of reading; and

• Restrict $5 million in Safe and Secure Schools grant fund to a pilot with Zero Eyes and specify KSBE will develop the pilot program.

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill shall take effect immediately upon passage and approval by the governor (Sec. 23).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that amends various educational reforms and regulations in the state of Kansas.

Highlights:

• Amends various educational reforms and regulations in the state of Kansas by incorporating several previous bills provisions, including, but not limited to (Sec. 1-23):

• Revising school district open enrollment procedures and requirements to prioritize students who are residents of Kansas over students who are residents of another state;

• Providing for continued enrollment of students who attended a school district of non-residence in the 2023-2024 school year;

• Authorizing school districts to deem students as not in good standing prior to enrollment; and requiring publication of nonresident student transfer policies on the school district website;

• Limiting the legislative option to purchase school district buildings to buildings that were formerly used as attendance centers;

• Authorizing students enrolled in virtual schools to participate in activities that are regulated by the Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) at such student’s resident school district without a minimum enrollment requirement in such resident school district and amending part-time virtual student funding.

• Establishing the Education Funding Task Force and abolishing the Special Education and Related Services Funding Task Force;

• Requiring each school district to establish an at-risk student accountability plan and show academic improvement in certain student subgroups and students identified as eligible for at-risk programs;

• Prohibiting the Kansas State Board of Education from revising the curriculum standards in English language arts (ELA) and mathematics until 75% of all students achieve proficiency;

• Requiring school districts to comply with all state laws, rules, and regulations to maintain accreditation.

• Establishing requirements for the determination of virtual school state aid for adult students;

• Revising the special education state aid statewide excess costs calculation to count additional funding;

• Requiring the State Board of Education to determine each school district’s excess costs and to establish a special education state aid equalization distribution schedule to distribute certain amounts of special education state aid;

• Requiring school districts to transfer amounts attributable to the special education weighting from their supplemental general funds to their special education funds;

• Reinstates the exclusion of bilingual, at-risk, transportation, CTE, and special education weightings;

• The governor’s budget recommendations for the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE), including:

• Remove the governor’s 5-year special education funding plan

• $75 million State General Fund (SGF) and $2.5 million American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to special education for FY 2025;

• Rescind $30 million Childcare Accelerator Grant – Kansas Children’s Cabinet.

• Stipulate the $5 million Public-Private Partnership Grant is for one year – Kansas Children’s Cabinet;

• Rescind $815,000 Children’s Initiatives Fund (CIF) for Specialty Care Program –

• Kansas Children’s Cabinet;

• Rescind $3 million from the Mental Health Intervention Team (MHIT);

• Restrict $1.9 million enhancement for professional development state aid for science of reading and math PD;

• Prioritize $1 million enhancement for teacher mentors to K-5 teachers implementing the science of reading; and

• Restrict $5 million in Safe and Secure Schools grant fund to a pilot with Zero Eyes and specify KSBE will develop the pilot program.

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill shall take effect immediately upon passage and approval by the governor (Sec. 23).

Full Bill Text