Kansas Senators Reject School Finance Bill Over Special Education Concerns
In a dramatic turn of events, Kansas senators voted to kill Senate Bill 387, a school finance bill that would have set the course for state education funding for the next three years. The decision came after public school advocates raised alarm over a provision in the bill that they argued would have severely underfunded K-12 schools, particularly in the area of special education.
The contentious provision in the bill sought to overhaul the state’s special education funding formula by incorporating local dollars into the calculation. Public education advocates, including the Kansas Association of School Boards and the Kansas National Educators Association, vehemently opposed this change, labeling it as a deceptive tactic to mask the lack of state funding for special education.
Representative David Younger, a Ulysses Republican, criticized the proposed formula as “voodoo math,” emphasizing that counting local option budget money as new funding was misleading. The current special education formula considers various factors to determine each district’s state special education aid, including the costs of services and federal aid. The proposed formula would have introduced new factors like Medicaid and state hospital funding, raising concerns about the state’s ability to meet its obligations to special education students.
Despite arguments from Representative Kristey Williams, an Augusta Republican, who defended the bill as a responsible and transparent solution, senators ultimately voted 12-26 against it. The rejection came just hours after the bill narrowly passed in the House.
With the Legislature set to adjourn for three weeks, the rejection of the school finance bill has left lawmakers scrambling to find an alternative solution before the break. If a new education bill is not introduced by Friday night, lawmakers will adjourn without a budget blueprint for education in place, adding further uncertainty to the state’s education funding landscape.
The decision to reject the bill underscores the importance of ensuring adequate funding for special education services in Kansas schools, as advocates continue to push for a fair and sustainable funding formula that meets the needs of all students.