In preparation for the wrap-up session, the Kansas Legislature’s two budget-writing committees met for a total of nearly 20 hours this week but did not take any action on school finance.
The decision to delay consideration of school finance means deliberations and votes on K-12 funding will be part of packed agenda when legislators return Monday.
Education groups, including KASB, have released a joint statement, urging legislators to continue the phased-in Gannon funding; allow the flow of federal funds to schools related to COVID issues and maintain the constitutional duty of local boards and the State Board of Education in determining curriculum. A link to the full statement is here.
On Monday and Tuesday, the Senate Ways and Means Committee met to work on the omnibus budget. Chairman Rick Billinger, R-Goodland, said the committee would consider K-12 funding after the Legislature convenes.
The House Appropriations Committee met Tuesday and breezed past public school issues.
State Rep. Kristey Williams, R-Augusta, who is chair of the House K-12 Education Budget Committee, and a member of Appropriations, said school funding and policy proposals should be linked together again during the wrap-up session, as they were during the regular session.
During the regular session, legislation that would have increased school funding, but also expanded the use of public funds for private schools and restricted remote learning, was defeated. On Tuesday, Williams blamed Democrats and the Senate for blocking that proposal. A coalition of Republicans and Democrats opposed the bill in both the House and Senate.
Another question that has come up is whether federal funds to assist schools in response to COVID-19 can be used to supplant state funds. Under the federal guidelines, states cannot reduce their state funding commitment by using Elementary & Secondary School Emergency Relief Funds but legislative staff told legislators that federal rules surrounding other federals funds were still being developed. Here is a link to details of federal assistance provided by the recently enacted American Rescue Plan Act. Here is a link that details federal COVID-19 help to schools.
When the wrap-up session starts, Republican leaders have said they will challenge a number of Gov. Laura Kelly’s vetoes.
Kelly, a Democrat, vetoed Republican bills on tax cuts, guns, and control of federal COVID dollars.
On education, Kelly vetoed bills that would require students pass a civics test and financial literacy course to graduate high school, prohibit transgender athletes from participating on girls and women’s teams and require districts with gun safety programs to pattern those after the NRA’s Eddie Eagle program in early grades.
None of those bills passed with veto-proof majorities, but several were close and could be overturned.
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